In a world where technology drives innovation across sectors, health education is no exception. In response to this growing need, a four-day intensive ICDL training was conducted at St. Simon Peter Vocational Training Institute in Hoima, aimed at boosting the digital skills of health educators from three key institutions: Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery, Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Fort Portal College of Health Sciences.
This training was designed to equip staff from Health Training Institutions (HTIs) with a broad range of essential digital competencies, including online collaboration, teamwork, cyber security, and the use of ICT in education. With these skills, educators are now better positioned to not only enhance their own teaching methods but to pass these critical skills on to students, ensuring a sustainable impact on health education.
Steve Mwanje, the trainer from St. Simon Peter Vocational Training Institute, highlighted the significance of the training:
“It’s exciting to see them gain confidence as they learn. This training is just the beginning; the real impact will be seen when they take these skills back to their classrooms.”
For many participants, this training was an eye-opening experience. Haron Omara from Jinja School of Nursing remarked:
“I learned that the computer is more practical than I thought. This training added to the knowledge I thought I already had.”
The importance of digital literacy in health education was underscored by Loy Katali from Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery, who emphasized that mastering digital tools is crucial for improving both teaching methods and student engagement.
“This training is a game-changer. It’s not just about using computers; it’s about improving how we teach and prepare our students.”
Ambrose Okello, the activity lead from Enabel, echoed these sentiments, noting that while tutors are excellent at their work, equipping them with digital tools will enhance their ability to integrate technology into their teaching practices.
As we look to the future, further training will continue to ensure all tutors are equipped with the necessary digital skills to cascade this knowledge to students, laying a strong foundation for the integration of ICT in health education across the region.
