MIT Solve

Solution Overview & Team Lead Details

Our Organization

Scratch Technologies

What is the name of your solution?

The New Vision of African Classroom Education.

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

A new vision of African education, one that puts the beauty, power, freedom, creativity and initiative at the very heart of the learning process.

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

THE PROBLEM.

The Scratch Technologies (Team ScratchTech) is on a mission to put the power, beauty and freedom of learning into the palms of everyday learners. Our focus is on Africa. The Education System of Africa is losing its relevance. Education today is in crisis and it is about time we open our eyes to see the opportunities that come within this crisis to present a smart solution that looks promising and has the essential elements that gives students the opportunity to rise to their highest potential.

Talking about education crisis means a whole lot of challenges and problems bombing Africa's education from each and every side of the dice. Africa indeed is in a big education crisis. We are looking at an education system which does not serve the needs of the current generation, much less the demands of the next generation. A kind of education system which is still tag with ‘traditional’ and providing children of the Information Age with the tools, skills and mindsets that were once used by our ancestors who were once living in an industrial era, centuries ago.

To give a clear pictorial view of Africa’s education problem means having a holistic approach to the key things affecting learning and teaching in general, taking into consideration what goes on inside a typical African classroom, outside the classroom, beyond the classroom, and behind the four classroom walls.

Inside the classroom, we have both teachers and students struggling with learning and teaching. Outside the classroom we have learning ceasing, learning has a limit, behind the classroom poverty, child labour, teenage pregnancy, war, disability is also keeping children away from the school. Beyond the classroom, we have students graduating with little to no employable skills required by the 21st Century workplace. A solution to this African education crisis must put all these factors into consideration.

What is your solution?

THE SOLUTION

The new vision of African Classroom Education is built on an all-inclusive framework termed “The PTTS Teaching/Learning Framework 2022. The framework takes a holistic view of africa’s education crisis taking into consideration and transforming what goes on inside a typical african classroom, outside the classroom, beyond the classroom, and behind the four classroom walls.

The Framework is a complete suits that contains 10 packages all working together to achieve a common goal of making learning fun for children.

ScratchApp (Learning/Gamification)
Blue ID technology
The Whole School Catalogue (TWSC)
ScratchTutors Network
Beyond the 4 Classroom walls
Governance and Leadership
Coding/STEM and Digital Literacy
Financial Literacy/Entrepreneurship
Communication and Media
Exchange programs/Travelling Abroad/Volunteering

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The ScratchTech envisions a future where every African student has these three things: something to do, something to hope for and someone to love. It is about time we create that enabling environment that will support the dreams and aspirations of children. Every child deserves quality education.

'The New Vision of African Classroom Education' focuses on giving every child, mostly underserved children and youth between the ages of 5 and 18 the chance to succeed in life. Poverty, disability or background shouldn't be hindrance to one's education.

Our solution to African education crisis will help us to achieve our goal of preparing our kids for the Innovative era. Children need 21st Century skills to survive in today's world. Education should now be tagged with inclusivity, technology, blended learning, personalized learning, gamification, networking, innovation etc. We are giving all to them. Our focus is on Africa.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

As a social entrepreneur and a programmer, I think I have the programming skills and experience to deliver the right solution to serve children in Ghana and Africa at large. I am an African, born on an African soil, Ghana. I have been a victim of traditional education and I know what is actually wrong with our very own education system. I have the programming skills and knowledge to create great learning/teaching software, web/mobile application to solve Africa's education problem.

Thankfully, I receive support of great and influential figures, parliamentarians, and organizations are contributing their quota in a very remarkable way to help me solve this education crisis confronting Africa.

I connect with educators, schools, institutions, chiefs and leaders to seek advices and wisdom when the going gets tough.

I believe in my teammates. They have the right knowledge, skills and mindset of delivering smart solutions. I think we are good.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Enable personalized learning and individualized instruction for learners who are most at risk for disengagement and school drop-out

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Accra, Ghana

Our solution's stage of development:

Prototype

How many people does your solution currently serve?

10,000

Why are you applying to Solve?

As the founder of the Scratch Technologies, I believe strongly that the world exists billions of problems and no problem needs to be solved twice. As a young entrepreneur, I always have the desire to get access to grants and investments and also I care a great deal about networking, mentorship and business coaching. I believe MIT Solve will help me get the right connections and also provide me with the opportunity to learn and grow.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

Business model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Prince Banahene