Background
Whilst visiting Ghana, in May 2024, I was deeply saddened to find none of the dozens of people I spoke to about edx free internet courses with a certificate knew about it. All were very interested; from waiters to CEOs, shop staff to church leaders responsible for education. Whether this ignorance was due to the lack of money getting opportunities or sheer incompetence or pragmatism, I don’t know. But I am still furious. A great inexpensive opportunity to develop our young people, for those thirsty for and willing to work very hard for knowledge, betterment, and self improvement has not been communicated to them.
Therefore I sent this email and WhatsApp messages to many people:
Spread the Word – Free University Level Courses
Please forward to people and organisations you think can make this happen or help in any way they can.
Please consider providing resources and support to help young people self learn various courses and attain useful skills.
Free Internet courses with certificates on successful completion at
www.edx.org
Over 4,000 free courses by some of the top universities. This is appropriate when the students want a certificate to attest to their competence.
Free university course ware and lecture notes.
https://oercommons.org/oer
Open Educational Resources (OER) are FREE teaching, learning and research materials (including books, lectures, lessons, exams and videos) from teaching institutions around the world. Also check out opencourseware and Open Source Software (OSS) FREE legal Software. (BTW much of Internet utilises OSS.)
Thousands of universities around the world publish some of the courseware on the internet. No lab exercises or assignments marked presentations etc. This is appropriate where people want to learn university level knowledge on a subject.
Resources required for enablement. Initial thoughts are that the following resources are required.
Some Resources Required
1 Free wifi (freewififorstudy) in schools, libraries, churches, community centres , night clubs, football clubs, theatres etc.
Ask the government to state when 50% freewififorstudy will be done
Restrict sites free wifi can access. Can limit or ban non studying sites
2 Volunteer evening classes or tutors who can help students in their studying
3 Encourage businesses to employ apprenticeships, where so many hours per week they use free wifi and study. When they get a certificate, will get a better job
4 It will be good if you can get Africans to produce and add to edx.com courses in local languages.
5 Provide information and support (perhaps even training) on legally free opensource software. Such as opensource software found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_and_open-source_software_packages
And
https://portableapps.com/apps
And
https://financesonline.com/best-open-source-shopping-cart-software/
(Eg dspace, mysql, mariadb, mediawiki, gimp, Apache OpenOffice, weka, 7-zip, ATutor, moodle, ubuntu, TurboCash, DOLIBARR, Audacity, Blender, Gallery, Kdenlive, VirtualDub, Handbrake, Mozilla Thunderbird, Apache, DRUPAL, XAMP, firefox, project.net, TeanLab. KaadressBook, OFBiz, ProjeQtOr, WordPress, Oscommerce)
Don’t think of this as just a way for you and your friends to make money. Companies providing Internet training should benefit greatly. This is about providing resources and support for developing your nation’s most precious resources, Your young people.
Please forward and discuss with people and organisations with integrity and social conscience.
Who is this man?
Me. If you are one of those people whose first few questions will include “Who is this man?” Please visit my website. It includes other ideas for personal and economic development.
Www.aray2.co.uk
Email aray2ltd@gmail.com
I will be glad to endeavour to answer any questions you have.
Also, I am begging you a favour. Please ask appropriate people who can to put up entries on African art on my new wiki www.afroartwiki.com
It’s primary purpose is to list African artists and their art.
I apologise for this unsolicited contact and taking up your time .
Thank you for your kind attention.
Regards …. Karl
P.S. ENJOY, whatever you do.
Distribute Far and Wide
Please try to send it to:
Department of education ,Members of Parliament, churches, schools, university , secretary of education, youth, development , chamber of commerce, Ethnic groups leaders / chiefs, Theatres, Football Clubs etc
A Few Open Source Applications Software
Addition Notes (not included in original Email)
Examples of Applications usage:
• dspace – archiving. Storing scanned documents, saving records, laws, minutes, and reports
• WordPress – Building websites (it was used by 43.1% of the top 10 million websites as of December 2023)
• Mediawiki – used by Wikipedia (the world’s largest and most visited website). Knowledge management, information sharing, content management
• Apache OpenOffice – Office productivity suite; word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, drawing, formula editor and database management.
• Moodle – Learning Management system
• DOLIBARR – Enterprise resource planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Quattor, Salt – Configuration management
• GLPi, OTRS, Request Tracker – Issue tracking and service desk system, service management. With Smart phone Applications these could be used to report, authorize, manage and track issues such as public service failures, infrastructure defects, crimes, street lights, pot holes