IMatter Project
Year of Implementation: 2018
Background
The iMatter Project addressed the digital exclusion faced by special needs students in Ghana’s Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions. Six specialized schools participated, including institutions serving deaf, blind, and intellectually disabled learners. The project recognized that both educators and students in special needs schools lacked access to ICT training, limiting educational and future employment opportunities.
Strategy
The project adopted a dual approach targeting:
- Teacher Training: 91 educators (including 6 headteachers) received instruction on using ICT tools for lesson planning, delivery, and student data management
- Student Skills Development: 160 special needs students learned practical ICT applications through Microsoft Office and CorelDRAW suites
- Implementation focused on hands-on, adaptive training methods suitable for various disabilities across the participating schools.
Key Highlights
- Equipped 91 special education teachers with digital pedagogy skills
- Enabled 160 students with disabilities to gain functional ICT literacy
- Covered six specialized institutions serving diverse learner needs
- Demonstrated successful ICT integration in special needs education settings
- Built confidence in both teachers and students for technology use.
The project successfully proved that with proper training approaches, ICT tools can be effectively utilized in special needs education environments.