The research paper, “How Digital Technologies Can Transform Education in Sub-Saharan Africa,” examines how education is currently being delivered throughout the region.
Connectivity and digital technologies are the key to bringing out the full potential of Africa’s youth. These resources are essential to improving African education systems because they provide new learning opportunities for African youth and enable teachers to communicate with students in even the most isolated and rural communities. But only if the proper policies and support systems are in place.
One of the main themes in recent research conducted by Vodacom Group, Vodafone, and Safaricom and released in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The research paper, “How Digital Technologies Can Transform Education in Sub-Saharan Africa,” examines how education is currently being delivered throughout the region.
It exemplifies how digital technologies and connectivity can be used to lower barriers to African education systems, along with the necessary regulatory frameworks, support from governments, and assistance from industry stakeholders.
In the last 50 to 60 years, there has been a significant increase in access to education across Africa, according to the research report. However, access does not always equate to quality of education, which is a sad reality.
Digital tools and technologies enable young people to connect with highly qualified educators who can assist them in converting educational content into useful knowledge, which provides a cost-effective and scalable solution to this issue when combined with accessible and dependable connectivity.
“We have seen this first-hand through our ecosystem of education projects and initiatives, which seek to give access to quality educational assets, support remote learning, and seek to enhance the overall educational experience for teachers and students in some of Africa’s most under-resourced communities,” says Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.
He continues, “Our Vodacom e-School programme in South Africa is a shining example of this. The programme encourages digital education by giving students in primary and secondary schools free access to high-quality instruction (Grade R to 12). Access to other educational resources, support services, and digital learning materials (such as interactive textbooks, multimedia content, and assessments) are all included in this. All Vodacom customers have free access to the platform on desktop and mobile devices.
“Challenging intergenerational cycles of poverty and inequality requires equal access to high-quality education. Professor Verne Harris, acting CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, says Nelson Mandela “always emphasised how important education is, not only for self-actualization and individual transformation, but also in shifting the trajectory of society towards equity, justice, and a shared dignity.
While there is no denying that these technological advancements have the potential to completely transform African education, a number of access barriers prevent African youth from utilising them to their fullest potential.
These obstacles, according to Professor Jonathan Jansen, an internationally recognised expert on education and one of the authors of the study, range from a lack of dependable electricity, limited technical support, and unreliable Internet access to language barriers, unstable political environments, and constrictive social norms.
But he asserts that, with the appropriate policies, infrastructure, and financial investments in place, digitalization can open up new possibilities for Africa’s young people to enjoy a more just, sustainable, and connected future.
“The appropriate partnerships, interventions, and ecosystems can help to overcome each of these obstacles. In order to ensure that the mechanisms put in place are appropriate and meet African learners and educators where they are, Professor Jansen emphasises that removing these barriers requires political buy-in and support from governments.
In practise, this entails creating and putting into place regulations that support digital education, establishing business alliances, and making investments in digital infrastructure. Additionally, African governments need to support small-scale digital education initiatives and work actively to change teacher education to meet the demands of digital learning.
Joosub emphasizes the challenge of understanding Africa’s economic, social, and political environment to bring together stakeholders and develop solutions. This will equip young people with the necessary skills to contribute to communities and participate in the digital economy.
By uniting stakeholders, the goal is to ensure that young people are equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to their communities and contribute effectively to the digital economy.