Connected Learning Key to Improving Education in Africa, says Internet Society Study
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Internet, in particular, can have a transformative effect on education in Africa. This is according to a report launched today by Internet Society.
The report was presented at the Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue taking place today in Kigali, Rwanda. Titled “Internet for Education in Africa – Helping Policymakers to Meet the Global Education Goals” the new report assesses how the Internet is used in the education sector in Africa. It also looks at the untapped opportunities by examining experiences in other regions, and provides recommendations for policymakers to help encourage learning via the Internet.
Expanded connectivity thanks to increased access to mobile broadband and the development of submarine cables enabled more than a quarter of the African population (approximately 341 million people) to have Internet access in 2016. This represents a significant opportunity to use the Internet to provide education and learning opportunities. However, the report underscores that integration of ICTs and leveraging the Internet for education requires clear vision and strategy and, most importantly, commitment accompanied by investment in broadband connectivity, learning resources, and technical support.
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“A skilled workforce that can use Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) effectively to solve Africa’s problems will also determine Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy,” said Dawit Bekele, Africa Regional Bureau Director for the Internet Society. “And policymakers have a critical role to play in creating the necessary ecosystem for integrating ICT in education,” he added.
The Internet Society’s Enabling Environment Framework provides guidance and highlights the necessity of encouraging infrastructure development, fostering skills and entrepreneurship and establishing governance for the Internet ecosystem – with a particular focus on clear and holistic policies for ICT in education in Africa.
Some of the key advantages of Internet learning outlined in the report are providing alternative learning tools to address some education challenges in Africa such as the lack of learning materials and teacher, reaching more individuals and disseminate content and learning resources at a lower cost. The internet can also remove certain economic and social barriers to education such as geography, gender, and disabilities as well as provide greater flexibility for anytime, any place education, particularly for those who are working and want to pursue professional development.
The first ever Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue opened today in Kigali, Rwanda, in partnership with UNESCO and Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Youth and ICT. The event aims to gather various organizations working on Internet and development across the region to find synergies, and create opportunities for coordination and collaboration.
Experts including government and inter-governmental organization officials, business and educational leaders from throughout the continent will discuss how Africa can use the Internet to advance education, innovation and job creation.
This conference is part of a global series of Internet development conferences organized by the Internet Society with the aim of furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that aim at tackling the world’s main development challenges by 2030. Regional Internet Development Dialogues were held last year in Asia Pacific and Latin America.
