Activity
From Imagining Computers to Using Them: How the Mobile Computer Lab is Transforming IT Lessons in Teshie
For many students, computer lessons were something they could only imagine: until the Mobile Computer Lab brought laptops into classrooms in Teshie.
- Published
- 18 March 2026
- Author
- Empower Communities Ghana
For many students in public schools and most private schools, computer lessons have always been something they could only imagine.
Teachers explain how Microsoft Word works. Students write the instructions in their notebooks. Lessons continue without anyone actually touching a computer.
Some teachers even draw the Microsoft Word interface on the board.
Student Experience
One student described the experience:
Before the Mobile Computer Lab, we had to imagine what the Microsoft interface looked like.
The student explained that teachers would describe how to create a Word document while students wrote the steps down.
For some students, this made IT lessons difficult and less engaging.
The Change
In February 2026, that experience changed.
Empower Communities Ghana launched its Mobile Computer Lab, bringing laptops directly into classrooms.
The project operates like a mobile computer library.
Schools can book the lab for IT lessons, after which the Empower Communities Ghana team brings the laptops to the school and sets them up for students.
For many students, it was their first time using a laptop.
The Classroom Experience
When the laptops were opened, the atmosphere changed.
Curiosity turned into excitement.
Instead of writing instructions in notebooks, students could follow their teachers and practise directly on a computer.
One student described the difference:
Now I enjoy IT lessons much more.
Teachers' Response
IT teacher Peter Quarshie also highlighted the difference.
The project has created greater enthusiasm for IT and helped students understand lessons because they can practise what they are learning.
Community and Education Leadership
District Education Director Madam Theresah Tetteh praised the initiative and thanked Empower Communities Ghana for supporting education in the district.
The project was launched at the Lekma North Cluster of Schools with support from School Improvement Support Officer Madam Florence Kokor Koomson and IT teacher Ashalley Isaac.
Looking Ahead
Headmaster Samuel Bempong believes the programme can create a lasting impact by turning IT education from theory into practical learning.
For Empower Communities Ghana, the project represents an important step towards closing the digital divide.
The organisation believes that creating access to digital devices is the first step towards bridging that divide.
What's Next?
The Mobile Computer Lab will continue expanding to reach more schools and communities.
From September 2026, Empower Communities Ghana plans to introduce STEAM and Robotics sessions.
These sessions will help students develop:
Critical thinking
Creativity
Problem-solving
Collaboration
The long-term goal is to help develop a generation of young innovators who can use technology to solve challenges in their communities and participate confidently in an increasingly digital world.