Deaf students at Akatsi Demonstration School in the Akatsi South Municipality have benefited from a new Starlink internet installation. This initiative, educators say, is transforming inclusive education and expanding learning opportunities for children with disabilities.
The installation is part of a broader Starlink Internet Connectivity Programme led by Friends of Adaklu in collaboration with Our Future Prize and Learning Upgrade, and sponsored by the Starlink for Good Initiative.
The project connected 30 schools in the Volta Region to high-speed satellite internet to bridge the digital divide, support digital literacy, and improve teaching and learning outcomes in schools in the Region.
According to Ginhee Rancourt, Founder of Our Future Prize, beneficiary schools receive a one-year free subscription with high-capacity data, as well as the Learning Upgrade programme, enabling them to access global educational resources, support online learning, and strengthen administrative processes without the financial burden of internet costs.
Akatsi Demonstration School, the only institution in the Akatsi South Municipality that shares a compound with a unit for students with hearing and speech disabilities has a student population of 214 and 19 teachers, but has long struggled with limited access to internet resources.
The project has, however, brought significant change, especially for the special unit that caters to deaf students. Although it has 10 computers, nine are currently functional, and both teachers and students previously had to contribute money to purchase data for online learning.
The absence of reliable internet limited access to critical digital tools such as sign language dictionaries, visual learning platforms, and other applications essential for inclusive education.
Patrick Kpemle, the Circuit Supervisor for Akatsi Circuit A who is currently overseeing the school’s administration, said internet connectivity is transforming how deaf students learn.
He explained that many students with disabilities face stigma and low expectations, but access to the internet can change their outlook on what is possible.
“In this part of the country, we kind of stigmatise deaf students, seeing them as if they are nobody. But if they have internet access and can watch videos of other deaf people becoming doctors, nurses, and professionals, they will know that their disability is not a barrier,” he said.
Mr Kpemle added that internet access will allow students and teachers to explore sign language dictionaries and other educational tools that are not locally available. This will enhance communication, comprehension, and independent learning.
“There are applications teachers here may not be able to use because of interpretation challenges, but the students themselves can now explore them online,” he said.
He also noted that most of the instruction for deaf students relies heavily on visual materials, and the internet now provides unlimited access to high-quality visual content that can improve teaching and learning outcomes.
The introduction of internet connectivity is also expected to significantly improve the school’s ICT education.
Mr Kpemle explained that computing lessons were previously taught in abstract because students could not access real-time data or multimedia materials.
“The internet will help boost ICT learning and move us from teaching computing in abstract to showing real-world examples. Even excursions can now be done virtually,” he said, describing the installation as “a saviour” for the school.
He added that access to online materials will also help compensate for the shortage of textbooks supplied by the Ghana Education Service.
Students can now download soft copies of textbooks and other learning materials, giving them access to up-to-date information.
Teachers are also set to benefit, as many of them are not familiar with using the internet or digital tools in the classroom, but plans are underway to train them in how to search for resources online and integrate digital content into lessons, according to the SISO.
With the availability of internet access, teachers can now conduct research, prepare better lessons, and support students more effectively. Administrative work, such as data reporting and communication, which increasingly relies on online platforms, will also become more efficient.
He added that the school still faces challenges of a limited number of computers, which means that classes with over 27 students have to share nine devices, stretching one-hour ICT lessons into multiple sessions over several days.
Kpemle appealed for more computers and a projector to improve the quality of teaching and allow for one-on-one learning experiences.
Dennis Teisuka, the school’s IT teacher, described the Starlink installation as a “game changer” that will make teaching and learning easier for both students and teachers.
In his address to the teachers and students of the School, Robert Tornu, Programmes and Policy Advisor of Friends of Adaklu, entreated teachers to ensure they use the internet connection solely for teaching and learning purposes to maximise its use.
He added that doing so would help avoid distractions and misuse of the resource and maximise learning outcomes.
Educators believe the intervention will help reduce stigma, raise aspirations, and prepare students for a future where digital literacy is essential.
With continued support, including the provision of more ICT equipment and sustained internet access beyond the first year, the school hopes to build on this progress and ensure that all students, including those who are deaf, have equal access to quality education.
By Desmond Tinana, Akatsi
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
