Rwamagana schools get iPads

Cedars School of Excellence, Scotland has donated 30 iPads to Kabare and Nsinda schools in Rwamagana District.A delegation of 14 students and their teachers have been training teachers and administrators at the schools, prior to the official hand over of the iPads.According to Jenny Oakley, a teacher who led the delegation Cedars was committed to help the schools use the technology in teaching, through its partner Children Might Foundation (CMF).CMF is a charity organisation that partners with Rwamagana and Kayonza districts in development programmes.Oakley noted that the delegation gave teachers fundamental knowledge and skills, enough to operate the iPads.“iPads inspire creativity and hands-on learning with features you won’t find in any other educational tool...a device that students really want to use,” she said.She said that Rwandan schools would immensely benefit from use of the technology, just like their counterparts at Cedars School of Excellence in Scotland.“Students will now experience the most amazing textbooks they’ve ever read. They can flip through a book by sliding their finger along thumbnail images of the pages”.“Students will no longer be limited to a single picture to illustrate the text...they can flick through a gorgeous photo gallery or dive into an image with interactive captions,” she demonstrated to teachers.Felecien Ngirabakunzi, the head teacher of Nsinda Secondary School observed the school was entering into a new era of technology use.He said that training for the teachers would continue, noting that use of technology couldn’t be taken for granted.“We went through some basic training on iPad use... With iPad, the classroom is always at your fingertips. Students can track their assignments; take notes and study for finals. Teachers can give lessons, monitor progress and stay organised. It is an amazing experience,” he said.