Pokot Girls Seed School Learners Step Into the Digital Future Through ICT Club Training

Pokot (Girls) Seed School in Amudat District has taken an important step towards empowering learners with practical digital skills, innovation awareness, and responsible use of technology through the launch and training of its ICT Club.

The activity took place on Thursday, 19th February 2026 and was facilitated by Paul Mboya on behalf of Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA). It was conducted under the ICT Clubs programme supported by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and UCUSAF.

The purpose of the visit was to officially launch the school ICT Club, orient learners and school leaders on the objectives of the programme, and equip students with foundational digital knowledge and practical ICT skills. The session also encouraged learners to view technology as a tool for creativity, problem-solving, leadership, and future opportunity.

The school leadership, led by Headteacher Mr Langat Fred, together with ICT Teacher Mrs Chelangat Scovia, welcomed the programme and engaged with the KAWA team on how the ICT Club can support digital learning and innovation within the school.

Before the training began, learners were invited to share their expectations. Many hoped to gain practical computer skills beyond normal classroom learning. Others wanted to learn how to maintain and protect ICT equipment, improve their internet use, explore coding, create digital content, and understand innovation. Some learners also expressed interest in mentorship, teamwork, problem-solving, and preparation for future careers in the digital world.

During the training, learners were guided to understand that the ICT Club is not only a group for computer practice. It is a platform for building confidence, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, creativity, and innovation. Students were encouraged to take ownership of school ICT resources and support the proper use and sustainability of the computer laboratory.

KAWA provided learning materials to support the launch and training. These included PowerPoint presentations, practical demonstrations, case studies, and interactive exercises. Learners were also introduced to the ICT Clubs website, www.ictclubs.ug, where they can access tutorials, innovation resources, and digital learning materials to continue building their skills after the launch.

The official launch was conducted through a recorded speech message from the Executive Director of UCC, Mr Nyombi Thembo. His message emphasised the importance of digital skills, responsible use of technology, innovation, and the role of learners in sustaining school ICT laboratories. This helped students appreciate that their school is part of a wider national programme promoting digital transformation in education across Uganda.

KAWA worked with the school administration, ICT teacher, and club patron to establish the ICT Club and support the formation of student leadership structures. Learners were guided on how the club will operate, why leadership is important, and how accountability can help sustain club activities. A standard ICT Club constitution template was also shared with the school to guide formal club operations.

The ICT Club Handbook was also shared with the school to support effective club management throughout the year. The handbook will guide the patron, teachers, and student leaders in areas such as leadership, learner participation, innovation activities, digital skills development, and responsible use of technology.

The digital skills training introduced learners to ICT laboratory management and sustainability, basic computer maintenance, troubleshooting, internet safety, cybersecurity awareness, coding, innovation, and Artificial Intelligence. The session encouraged learners to handle ICT equipment responsibly, practise safe internet use, and begin applying digital skills to real-life problem-solving.

Learners were also informed about preparation for ANCC 2026. This encouraged them to take ICT Club activities seriously, strengthen teamwork, and begin developing practical projects and innovations that could represent their school in future technology platforms.

The expected outcomes of the Pokot (Girls) Seed School ICT Club include improved practical ICT skills, stronger learner ownership of school ICT resources, safe and ethical use of technology, increased interest in coding and innovation, and better preparation for future digital opportunities. The club is also expected to support mentorship, digital creation, teamwork, and participation in national ICT-related competitions.

The visit also highlighted several challenges affecting ICT learning at the school. These included unreliable power supply, inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited time for club activities, low digital literacy among some learners, and the need to sustain momentum after the launch. It was also noted that teachers cannot access the network from the staff room, which limits effective use of online resources for teaching and preparation.

Another important challenge was that the ICT teacher is not yet on payroll, which may affect long-term ICT support and consistency in guiding learners. In addition, some keyboards on the laptops provided by NITA-U were not working, reducing the number of devices that learners can use effectively during practice sessions.

The school administration also requested the relocation of the solar battery and the internet access point from their location at the time of training to a more suitable place connected to the computer laboratory. This would help improve access, strengthen ICT use, and make the school’s digital resources more useful for learners and teachers.

These challenges show that successful ICT Club implementation requires both learner enthusiasm and strong infrastructure support. Reliable power, functional devices, good connectivity, teacher support, and proper placement of ICT equipment are all important for sustaining digital learning.

KAWA encouraged the school to allocate regular time for ICT Club activities, strengthen support from the administration and patron, repair faulty equipment, improve access to the network, and continue receiving mentorship and follow-up training. Improved ICT infrastructure and reliable power will help the club grow into a stronger centre for digital learning and innovation.

The launch at Pokot (Girls) Seed School marked an important step in building learner capacity, promoting responsible use of technology, strengthening ICT sustainability, and preparing students for opportunities in the digital world.

With continued support from the school, KAWA, UCC, and UCUSAF, the ICT Club has the potential to become a powerful platform for nurturing confident, creative, and future-ready girls who can use technology to solve problems and contribute to their communities.

KAWA sincerely appreciates UCC and UCUSAF for their continued support towards the establishment and training of ICT Clubs in schools across Uganda.