Promotion of digital innovation and literacy skills for students and teachers

by Bakary Sanyang

An AfLIA Leadership Academy Cohort 1 Project

Bakary Sanyang, a participant in AfLIA Leadership Academy works with the Gambia National Library Service Authority. The lessons he imbibed at the Convening of the Academy made him to realise that for his library to drive development, they must begin to build inclusiveness. He understood that digital literacy is the language of the present as well as the future since those who cannot share, learn, network and perform other basic functions in an online environment would be left behind in this century. This is even more critical for teachers who need to continue learning from the ever-increasing educational resources online so that they can keep up with current best practices in their different fields. According to Bakary, if teachers can use online resources and digital tools to teach, it is also expedient that students need skills that would enable them to research and get more information materials from online. Bakary understood that to assist his community to gain quality education as espoused in SDGs 4, he would need to teach them digital skills.

He sought and got approval from his superior officer. He engaged the Ministry of Basic and Secondary education as well as the Ministry of Information and Communication. A secondary school in his community – Nusrat Senior Secondary school was chosen as the beneficiary of the training. A seminar and practical sessions on digital tools and platforms were held for teachers, students as well as members of staff of Gambia National Library Service Authority. It is expected that the skills will be transferred to other members of the community as more and more sessions are being held.