Edoovillage #2695 - Cameroon, Tiko: Reference Technical and Commercial College REFTECCOL | COREDA

Reference Technical and Commercial College (REFTECCOL) Tiko - Computer Literacy and Digital Inclusion project. REFTECCOL is a new technical and vocational school started in September 2023. The school is owned and managed by Community Relief and Development Action (COREDA).

2. Project Description - Please explain about your project and how you will use the laptops (*):
Background and Need
Elementary and primary education is essential but not sufficient to build career paths that will guarantee a better and self-sustaining future. Statistics shows that more than 80% of those who ended education at the primary level only are unemployed, frustrated and live on less than $1.9 day. They have very limited economic opportunities; engage in early marriages, domestic violence and with very high birth rates leading to a generational cycle of poverty. It has also been observed that general secondary right up to the university in Cameroon only produces job seekers who depend on the state for employment. The Cameroon public sector is already too saturated and alternative education that will produce entrepreneurs and job creators is paramount. We started a Technical and Vocation Secondary School in September 2023. Current enrolment is 126 and is expected to double in the next academic year. We offer courses in Civil Engineering (Building/Construction), carpentry and joinery, welding and sheet metal fabrication, electrical engineering, home economics/catering, clothing industry, accounting and business with crosscutting modules on entrepreneurship and digital skills.
Education is unthinkable in the 21st century without computers and related technologies. The world is rapidly changing with the emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). It is therefore imperative to adapt education with changing trends in the global sphere to enable children irrespective of their social and economic background fit into the digital world. We believe the future is for those who are not only able to read and read but those who can adequately use ICTs. The requested 24laptops will therefore be used to integrate the acquisition of digital skills while facilitate the teaching-learning process in the technical and vocational school.

Project Aim
Computer literacy and digital learning in a Secondary Technical School.

Project Objectives:
• To facilitate the teaching-learning process through interactive educational programs;
• To enable pupils/students acquire basic computer literacy skills which will enable them fit smoothly into the digital world;
• To enable vulnerable and disadvantaged children have access to ICTs tools, a rare resource in our communities and enable them compete with those on the global scale.

Sustainability of the Project/computers
We have a hardware expert who will carry out maintenance of the computers. The school is well secured to prevent theft of the computers. The computer rooms are also well ventilated and we will ensure the computers are unplugged and covered after use to prevent dust which is a common cause of computer breakdown. Automatic Voltage regulators will also be used to regulate power supply to the computer systems.
Expected Impacts of the project
• The teaching-learning process greatly enhanced;
• The huge digital divide among orphans and needy school children narrowed;
• Students able to manipulate a computer and use to accomplish tasks such as 3D drawings;
• Students graduating from our schools are not able to integrate themselves smoothly into the digital world;
• Students graduating from our secondary vocational school will have a competitive advantage in the job market due to computer literacy skills;
• Greater learning outcomes as the pupils and students are exposed to interactive learning programs;
• Students able to engage in independent online learning activities and further their education thanks to the acquisition of computer skills.
• Students more enthusiastic to learn, manipulate and use a computer and hence regular school attendance.