Sopala

the Stone Arch Bridge Initiative for Education Resources - SABIER

Sopala

Sopala is an open source and openly licensed innovation in K-12 education that functions effectively in classrooms with or without internet access.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

USA

Nonprofit

We’re solving first for those with the least resources with a solution that is scalable to those with resources. In the Northern Region of Ghana, there’s a lack of literacy resources in general, a lack of early literacy resources in the student's first language, a lack of STEM curriculum aligned to national standards, a lack of digital student WiFi devices, and a lack of teacher professional development to provide the necessary skills for teaching with digital tools.. The project or collaborative that we call "Sopala" (Dagbani for "Innovations") solves for all of the above deficits and.serves as a model for other countries or regions facing similar challenges. The strategies and processes can scale to any education setting. The World Bank estimates that nearly nine in ten students in sub-Saharan Africa live in “learning poverty,” unable to read a simple text by the end of elementary school. There are approximately one million K12 students in Ghana's Northern Region. Similar problems exist in most African countries. These regions have not recovered from the effects of colonialism and persistent poverty.

SOPALA is a combination of digital education tools and materials for regions with limited internet access, focusing initially on Ghana’s Northern Region. The system combines online teacher professional development and offline delivery through interconnected components. The ecosystem has two main segments: 1. Online Moodle Website: - English-Dagbani AI translation tool bridging language barriers - AI-based assessment tools for Math, Reading, and Science aligned with Ghanaian standards - Development courses for teacher training - OER Repository storing accessible teaching materials 2. Offline Raspberry Pi Infrastructure provides: - MoodleBox: A Raspberry Pi-powered portable server creates a local network and learning management system for student collaboration, resource access, and learning assessment. - Kiwix: An offline content system providing Wikipedia, textbooks, and other educational materials The teacher’s laptop serves as the connection point. Teachers download content via their cell phones used as hotspots, then deploy it through the MoodleBox Offline Local Network to Student Devices in classrooms. This allows students to access materials, collaborate, and complete assessments without the internet. SOPALA creates a self-contained learning environment that overcomes infrastructure limitations while maintaining educational quality and cultural relevance. The same system used in remote settings is equally practical in modern infrastructure. https://bit.ly/4jdORbr

The target population of our solution are The Dagbani (or Dagomba) people of Ghana's Northern Region. The Dagomba represent one of Ghana's most significant ethnic groups with a population of around 1-1.5 million people. The Kingdom of Dagbon was established around the 14th century and maintains strong traditional systems alongside modern governance structures. The Dagomba are underserved because: Schools frequently lack basic facilities like proper toilets, electricity, and clean water. There's a significant shortage of qualified teachers willing to work in Dagbani regions, particularly in rural areas. While Ghana's education policy supports mother-tongue instruction in early years, there are inadequate teaching and learning materials in Dagbani language. Girls in Dagbani communities face additional barriers, including early marriage practices, household responsibilities, and cultural norms that sometimes prioritize boys' education. Limited access to computers, internet connectivity, and digital learning resources put Dagbani students at a disadvantage compared to urban counterparts. Economic hardship in many Dagbani communities means families struggle with school fees, uniforms, and materials, leading to higher dropout rates. There are minimal resources for students with disabilities or learning differences in the region. Our solution addresses each of these problems by providing solutions to each.