Monrovia – Internet Technology is important in the advancement of modern education around the world, but Liberia’s education sector seems far from driving education through technology with several institutions still lacking access to internet service.
Report by Willie N. Tokpa, [email protected]
Internet Society is exploring avenues in Liberia to ensure that high schools transcend to a more modernized stage in the use of internet services to enhance students learning.
The group sees technology as a great component to modern life but said its usage within the education circle is sometimes unnecessary.
Liberian students are becoming more and more attracted to internet technology but utilizing it properly remains a serious challenge, the group said.
To avert the use of the internet for pornography and spreading bad messages, the organization is urging students to use internet for assignments and research work to ensure the true meaning of internet education in Liberia.
Availability of internet service at various high schools is essential and would help improve the academic advancement of many students who have no experience.
The United Awah Ummah High School is one of those institutions in the queue of schools lacking internet services in Liberia.
As part of its exploration mission in Liberia, Internet Society Liberia Chapter recently concluded a day-long training with students of United Awah Ummah School.
Students at the institution told FrontPage Africa at the end of the training that an introduction to internet education at their school would improve academy work there.
Mariama Barry, a female student, finds it sometimes difficult to get other assignments done easily due to the lack of books.
“I think what we are learning about the use of internet will help us because we’ve been using the internet on our phones to go on Facebook, but we will now use it to do checkup on lessons we are learning,” Student Barry said.
“We want our school administration to help us with internet service, because it will be easy for us to just do our assignments right on campus instead of going to look for books.”
She, however, warned other students against the use of the internet to send hate messages but rather use it for educational purposes.
During the training, T. Mathew Robert, Internet Society of Liberia Secretary, said the program intends to inform and educate students about the usefulness of the internet to academic activities.
Robert said since the organization began operating in the country, it has conducted trainings at several institutions, focusing on the importance of internet education.
“We are running a program where we provide training for people to understand the importance of internet and how it contributes significantly to their education,” he said.
“With this knowledge, it is our hope that in the next six months some of our schools will be connected to the Internet, where students will be able to do their assignment and make research why using the internet instead of using the same old style.”
Roberts further urged the public to take advantage of his organization’s initiative.
“The internet is for everybody; it is not for one person. So, the reason we are here is for every one to have access to the internet, and let the users be protected when they are using the internet and let them have their free will whenever they are browsing the internet,” Roberts maintained.
Also speaking, the Vice Chair for the Board of Directors of Internet Society, Jerome Beh said active internet system is important for all students, adding that the organization is also open to help install internet facilities at various educational institutions in Liberia.
He urged actors of the education sector in the country to support his organization’s move by encouraging the promotion of internet education.