Girl Child Day: HP Launches Mentor-a-Teacher Programme For Educators

American multinational information technology company, Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced on Monday that it has launched a new programme ‘Mentor-a-Teacher’ to assist educators in developing new learning methods for pupils.

HP in a statement said that the programme was launched in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

It said that the unique initiative was part of the company’s PATH (Partnership and Technology for Humanity), a programme to pave the way toward digital equity for underserved communities around the world.

It said it is focusing on education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

According to the statement, at the beginning of the year, HP committed to accelerating digital equity for 150 million people across the world by 2030.

Hakeem Subair, the Founder of One Million Teachers Inc. (1MT) said: “the company is excited to work with Girl Rising and HP to accelerate the achievement of SDG 4 and SDG 5.

“We are even more excited about how this collaboration will help us to advance our mission of building a critical mass of highly capable educators from the most underserved communities across the world,”

“Teachers will also gain leadership skills by utilising HP LIFE (a free IT and business skills training programme offered by the HP Foundation), and other valuable Girl Rising programmes,"

“Mentors are provided with resources, and a framework, to help guide the relationship, and the development of the teachers," he said.

Subair said that mentees could become mentors once they complete the six-month program, allowing the programme to scale to reach one million teachers across Africa ultimately.

Country Head for HP Nigeria, Emmanuel Asika said that the company was working collaboratively with Girl Rising, an initiative that gives children access to tell their stories and One Million Teachers (1MT), to develop and empower educators.

He further said that educators today were under immense pressure to quickly pivot the way they teach, as they transition to hybrid in-person and online learning models.

Asika said that not only do they need the right physical devices, but they also needed expert guidance on all aspects of the move to digital learning.

“Together with our partners, we will help promote and expand girls’ access to quality education as part of our strategy to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030,"

“We understand and appreciate that teachers play a crucial role in helping girls stay in school,"

“This can lead to incredible outcomes such as closing the gender equality gap, driving positive change for their communities, and even combating climate change,” he said.

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Asika said that by joining forces with Girl Rising, and One Million Teachers, they would make an even greater impact on girls’ education and on digital equity.

He said that they were thrilled that HP employees were also taking the reins to help these teachers to expand their skill sets stated.

Asika also said the new programme was part of HP’s commitment to extending the company’s education reach and enabling better learning outcomes for 100 million people globally by 2025.