Brighten Your Day

Ghanaian Teacher Who Drew Microsoft Word On A Chalk Board For His Students Gets Computers Donated

March 17, 2018

Earlier this month, photos of a teacher in Ghana drawing a diagram of Microsoft Word on a chalk board for his students went viral.

Richard Appiah Akoto needed his students to pass a national exam that includes questions on information and communication technology, but the school hasn't had a computer in 7 years.

After the photos went viral on social media, Microsoft Africa got word of Akoto's efforts and promised to send him a computer for his classroom.

"Supporting teachers to enable digital transformation in education is at the core of what we do. We will equip Owura Kwadwo with a device from one of our partners," the tech giant wrote on Twitter.

On March 8, students at Betenase M/A Junior High School received their very first laptop, courtesy of a Saudi benefactor at University of Leeds in the UK.

"The staff and students of Betenase M/A JHS wishes to say a very big thank you to AMIRAH ALHARTHI, university of Leeds for donating a laptop to the school to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT," Akoto wrote on Facebook.

Four days later a second donation arrived. Inspired by the teacher's story, NIIT Ghana, a computer training school based in Accra, donated five desktop computers to the school, along with books and a laptop for Akoto.

And, as part of Microsoft's promise to offer him free training, Akoto was flown to Singapore to attend the annual Microsoft Educators Exchange.

Akoto offered his gratitude this week on Facebook.

"Where there is a will , there is a way and where there is a way, there is a power to do," he said.

"God bless you all."