Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), has pledged to build a multipurpose ICT laboratory for the students of Oda Senior High School (ODASCO).

The initiative is to demonstrate his commitment towards the development of ICT education at the school, and its implementation will begin as soon as a suitable location is provided by the school authorities.

Speaking at the school's 64th speech and prize-giving day on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Akim Oda, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako, an alumnus of the institution and guest speaker at the ceremony, emphasised the importance of digital literacy in Ghana’s educational system announcing that the project would be delivered through his NGO, Education for Development (E4D) Foundation.

During his speech, on the theme “Opportunities and Risks in ICT: The Role of Education Stakeholders in Creating and Shaping Positive Digital Experiences of Students”, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako highlighted the crucial role of stakeholders in shaping positive digital experiences for students.

He stated that although ICT brings “a game-changing opportunity” to the educational sector to improve teaching and learning and specifically to empower students, it also comes with inherent risks.

The digital landscape, he indicated, “is fraught with risks such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and privacy breaches” and that “children are exposed to risks associated with the Contacts they establish on the internet, the Contents they access on digital platforms and risks associated with the Conduct of the people they interact with on the internet.”

He remarked that a 2022 survey by the Child Online Protection (COP) Division of the CSA, established that sixty-four (64%) of students in the Greater Accra Region receive pornographic materials in various forms, including images, words and videos.

Similarly, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) also reported that the most common platforms used to host child sexual abuse material are social media.

Against this backdrop, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako stressed the need for a robust digital literacy framework to prepare students for a future driven by technology and called for collaboration among the government, educators, and parents to ensure safe digital experiences for children.

He mentioned that clear guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of technology by students are essential, and advocated for the implementation of digital citizenship programmes that teach students about online safety, privacy, the consequences of cyberbullying, and career paths in ICT.

He also advocated for the incorporation of courses like coding, robotics, and cybersecurity into the curriculum from primary to secondary education.

Furthermore, the Director-General of the CSA emphasised the crucial role that parents, guardians, and caregivers, play in supporting children’s use of ICT at home.

He advised parents to utilise tools like parental control software to monitor and guide their wards' internet use, ensuring they stay on only safe and productive websites.

“Regular discussions with your children about their online experiences and setting clear rules about internet use can reinforce their understanding of responsible digital behaviour”, he added.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako also noted the importance of public-private partnerships with tech companies to provide schools with access to the latest digital tools.

“Policymakers should also encourage public-private partnerships to bring in innovation and investment. Such partnership could be between the government and tech companies like Microsoft and Google, which can provide schools with access to the latest software and digital tools,” he explained.

Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako stressed the profound impact the institution has had on his life. Noting that the principles of critical thinking, positive attitude, resilience, service and pursuit of excellence instilled in him have influenced who he is.

He therefore urged the students of ODASCO to develop a positive attitude towards their goals and encouraged them to not just be smart but to adopt a curious and resilient approach to learning, “Your attitude shapes who you become. Start each day ready to learn and grow” he stated.

In a related development, the Oda Senior High School, honoured Dr. Antwi-Boasiako with a citation for his commitment to cybersecurity development locally and internationally.