Offline educational platform for teachers, students launched

Techaide, a Ghanaian-based social enterprise, has launched an upgraded offline learning platform, “ASANKA,” to improve teaching and learning for teachers and students, particularly in rural communities. 

“ASANKA, which stands for “All Subjects and New Knowledge Access,” aims to provide students with educational materials such as lessons, videos and interactive exercises without the need for internet connectivity.

The platform currently covers core subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science for basic education levels from Class One to JHS Three, with plans to extend its reach to the senior high school level.

It is designed to work in both rural and urban settings and is aligned with the national curriculum to ensure students receive the right content for their grade level.

Some of the features on the platform include offline access, curriculum-aligned content, multi-language support, tracking and monitoring, a user-friendly interface and energy efficiency.

It is free for individual users, with minimal subscription fees for schools and also designed for both private use at home and in schools. 

Rationale

During the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of TECHAiDE, Kafui Prebbie, described the platform as a “digital port,” filled with educational content based on the Ghana Education Service (GES) curriculum.

He said many students in the country faced challenges accessing online learning platforms due to the high cost of the Internet and poor connectivity, hence the need for such a platform.

Mr Perbbie explained that the platform had been designed to provide access to about 30 per cent of Ghanaians who did not have internet access.

He said TECHAiDE aimed to expand ASANKA’s reach not just across the country but to other African nations, saying, “Already, the platform is being introduced in places such as Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.”

Mr Perbbie said, “The goal is to provide quality educational tools to reduce learning gaps and empower students to achieve their goals”.

He added, “In March next year, we will release new features of the ASANKA platform such as pre-tests, STEM tools, and self-study exercises to help students prepare for exams and learn more effectively and independently.”

Mr Prebbie encouraged schools, parents, and organisations to adopt the platform to improve educational outcomes, adding, “Education is a right, not a privilege, and tools such as ASANKA are essential to make that right a reality.” 

Commendation

The Executive Director of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS), Nana Gyamfi Adwabour, lauded TECHAiDE for aligning educational content with national curricula to ensure relevance and standardisation.

He said, “We are committed to developing a comprehensive EdTech policy that goes beyond the broad framework of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

This policy will focus on targeted assessments, tool research and measurable outcomes.”