Owura Kwadwo: the Ghanaian ICT teacher who teaches with a chalkboard

Creativity is the mother of hard work. Hard work without creativity would yield empty results. While still in the spirit of Black History Month, it would be interesting to go back in time, to celebrate a Ghanaian teacher who wasn’t just a hardworking but creative teacher who with passion developed a unique strategy to teach his students the practical aspect of a computer without using the computer itself.

In a world were corruption is the centerpiece, and many are after the reward without commensurate work to justify, Owura Kwadwo, a selfless young teacher, went miles in order for his students to learn the basics of computer. Regardless of what people would term it, this passionate black man let that behind him and put the society first.

According to Owura, his school in Ghana had no working PCs, he resorted to using a chalkboard in his computer study class. He painstakingly sketched out a mock-up of a Microsoft Word screen in colored chalk on his classroom blackboard so his students could learn digital skills even without devices.

On posting the pictures after the class, he became a social media sensation, trending in virtually all the social communities, the whole world applauding his tenacity.

His creativity earned him a star treatment at an international educators conference hosted by Microsoft in Singapore.

Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education at Microsoft, praised the 33-year-old as one example of the many teachers worldwide who breakthrough massive obstacles to meet their students’ needs every day.

“Your work has really inspired the whole world. It really signifies the amazing innovation, tenacity and passion that teachers have for helping their students get ready for the future,” Anthony said. 

“We at Microsoft strongly believe that educators are heroes and are pushing the boundaries of what is possible to transform learning and making a direct impact on the experiences and lifelong skills of their students.”

Microsoft after the event, promised to equip the school with a full computer lab with initial support and training. He also received offers for donations of laptops and projectors; surely great news for the school and its kids.