The former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba has urged teachers to advantage of technology for continuous Professional Development and cutting School operational costs. Advising them to embrace ICT in order to become independent, knowledgeable and self sustaining, the professor said that there is a lot of learning resources and material online which are beneficial to both the teachers and their students.
He was speaking Keynote Speaker at Makerere University Business School Main Library, ADB Building during the 4th eLearning Uganda Conference organized by the University in partnership with Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA)
Barya told teachers that with innumerable online resources, technology can help improve education. Teachers can use different apps and trusted online resources to enhance the traditional ways of teaching and to keep students more engaged. Virtual lesson plans, grading software and online assessments can help teachers save a lot time. This valuable time can be used for working with students who are struggling. What is more, having virtual learning environments in schools enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing between teachers.
He said that though ICT has been incorporated in Uganda's education curriculum and that many schools have computers, there has been little done to enrich the teachers' and students' skills using them for self empowerment.
The elearning conference was also addressed by Professor Wasswa Balunywa, MUBS Principal; Mr. Patrick Muyinda, Assistant Commissioner and PRO, Ministry of Education; Former State Minister of ICT, Hon. Nyombi Tembo and other distinguished Technology Experts from NITA Uganda, Uganda Communications Commission, MUBS ICT Centre and KAWA