TECHAiDE Global, in collaboration with the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS), has launched the newly upgraded Asanka Digital Platform to improve teaching and learning for basic school pupils and teachers, particularly in rural communities.

According to Kafui Prebbie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TECHAiDE Global, the platform aligns with the Ghana Education Service (GES) curriculum and is accessible to people with visual or hearing impairments.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr Prebbie explained that “Asanka,” which translates to “pot” in a Ghanaian local language, stands for “All Subjects And New Knowledge Access.”

The platform, designed for basic schools, provides all the curriculum content required for teaching and learning.

It does not require internet connectivity, making it particularly useful for the 70% of basic school students in rural areas who struggle to access digital learning due to the lack of connectivity.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Asanka device gained popularity among parents for home learning.

The upgraded version now offers more practical learning experiences aligned with the national academic program and enables parents and teachers to monitor the academic progress of learners offline.

“What makes Asanka different from other learning platforms is that Asanka device does not require the use of the internet; pupils’ progress can be tracked either on tablet or computer; it is tied directly to the national curriculum; it is practical; and contains videos and other learning materials for learners as approved by the GES”.

Mr Prebbie revealed plans to expand the platform’s content to include materials for senior high school students.

He also emphasised TECHAiDE Global’s vision to extend its reach across Africa and the world, noting that the organisation is already operational in countries like Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

Nana Gyamfi Adwabour, Patron of TECHAiDE and Executive Director of CENDLOS pledged his support and that of other stakeholders to ensure the Asanka device benefits more schools.

He highlighted Africa’s potential as the source of the next global workforce, with over 70% of its population under 30 years old, and urged TECHAiDE to develop more innovations for all educational levels.

Nana Adwabour also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the tech learning ecosystem to prevent duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.

As part of its Education Innovation Labs (EDNOLABS) project, TECHAiDE Global recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partners to enhance access to digital educational content for students and teachers in underserved communities.

The partners include the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, CAMFED, IMPLEMENTERS, UNICEF, Helping Africa Foundation, Mest Africa, and CENDLOS.

The EDNOLABS project aims to conduct evidence-based research to improve education in Ghana, targeting over 10,000 students, training more than 1,900 teachers, and establishing 20 modern education labs equipped with offline Asanka technology across 12 regions in Ghana to provide innovative learning environments.