Technology in African Education: ICT from the Bottom Up

Education in Africa ICT from the bottom up

Social/Global Goal Economic Development in Africa Through EducationSource: UNESCO ReportUWEZO Report

Sub-Saharan Africa 46 countries 800M in 2007 1.5B in 2050 (UN projection) Lowest median age, highest birthrate Top 8 fastest- growing cities 2010 are in Africa 10 lowest GDP per capita (17 of bottom 20) Courtesy Rob Salkowitz

Education Stats Africa Last Source: nationmaster.com: UNICEF statistics

The Why?Without proper and adequate education:Innovation is stifled, which keeps individuals impoverished.Technology helps to transform education in Africa by buildingworkforce and developing entrepreneurs.

Children out of School Source: UNESCO Report

Some tough #’sPrimary school enrollment is among the lowest in the world.In Sub-Saharan Africa, only two-thirds of children who startprimary school reach the final grade.40% of Africans over the age of 15, and 50% of women above the age of25 are illiterate.Average of 40 pupils per teacher in sub-Saharan Africa, 60 to 1 in some Source: UNICEF

Educational Challenges Teacher Training Classroom Resources Access to Information

Potential Solutions Digital Media & ICT Solutions Increasing access to technology helps improve the quality of teaching and the learning experience for students on the front end Efficient management and resourcing of schools by governments on the back end.

Leveraging Point Large support and financial, institutional backing Low cost infrastructure and a ubiquity across nations Access to mobile and other forms of technology Successful piloting programs Education

Failure is not an option Pilot programs have not been able to run Some argue that there are not enough pilot programs implemented. Money and resources are low. ICT infrastructure is not ubiquitous. Corruption and lethargy

Tech Transforming Education in Africa  Interconnection Uganda  CyberSmart Africa  Nokia MoMaths

UGANDA

Interconnection Uganda What they do: A for profit social enterprise dedicated to spreading the use of information Communication Technologies (ICT) in Uganda. ICU works in partnership with Computers for Uganda; It donates 10% of the refurbished computers to CFU.

Computers For UgandaOn June 21, 2006 Computers for Uganda departed from MIT on its fourth tripto install computer labs of fifteen computers each in 9 schools in andaround Ugandas Masaka District.Rotarians,Computers for the WorldIndividualsForest Ridge School of theSacred Heart, Mount Si High SchoolWA public high schoolsGov’t of Uganda

Use of Digital Technology Donate and sell Computers and ICT equipment at low prices to schools. Training for students, teachers and administrators Hosts databases and offers data share programs Vision to get computers in every home.

Achievements: 400 computers to 30 secondary and primary schools School sizes 700-2200 totaleffect. Students find Gov’t & Educaiton

Social ValuePay it forwardTeach a man to fishUse technology to raise skill level of workers in UgandaEmpower youth to become entrepreneurs

SENEGAL

CyberSmart AfricaWhat they do:CyberSmart Africa reaches the poorest schools on earth with the world’sfirst adapted interactive whiteboard operating with inexpensive solar power.We offer a packaged service solution focused on student learning.

CyberSmart Africa21st Century Skills for Education:  Disruptive  Innovative  Scalable

Use of Digital Technology  Access to technology and curriculum in rural schools  Using solar energy to power whiteboards  They reach more students in the classroom and help train teachers  Implementation costs are 50% Less than traditional models  Provide 50% more teacher Photography CyberSmart website training Source: CyberSmart website80% of schools in Sub-Saharan Africa without Power

Social ValueOffering an innovative environmentally sustainable form of ICT education inthe most difficult and distant rural locations.This is a good representation of the Bottom of thePyramid, extreme areas working to solve a particular issue.They offer the largest demographic of rural poor schools access. Photography CyberSmart website

Achievements: Featured on the EduTech blog by the World Bank as a viable source if battery issues could be resolved Scalable option both in rural and urban educational settings. Truly sustainable if it was figured out because it is solar based Photography CyberSmart website

SOUTH AFRICA

Nokia MoMaths Photography/ Source Nokia Momaths brochure

Use of Digital Technology  Using mobile SMS technology to educate students  Raise Math scores,  A big issue in South Africa. Source Nokia Momaths brochure

Achievements 350 learners Grade 9 to mid-year examination in grade 10 7% less for regular users of the service than their peers who did not use it regularly. Average decline of 22% is evident Source Nokia Momaths brochure

Results: In 4 years- Grade 9 to mid-year examination in grade 10 7% less for regular users of the service than their peers who did not use it regularly. Average decline of 22% is evident

Social ValueApplication for education at the bottom of the pyramidFramework that allows many people to learn and access is a big social value.

Achievements: Started as a pilot involving 6schools in 4 provinces in 2009. 30 schools in 3 provinces in 2010 2011 implementation of theproject to a targeted 150 schools infour provinces

Progress on the Issues mLearning offers cheap and easy access to information Helps at the bottom of the pyramid Uniting Government, private and NGOs Is important to help expand educational initiatives Training for teachers is important Enhancing administrational support for teachers

What still needs to be done? Piloting Program support Replicate Successful Programs Scalability

Possible Investors: It’s not always about the Benjamins… Source: mLearning Report Dec. 2010 GSMA

Developed World Implications If it works in extreme environments then it can work anywhere. The use of a solar power interactive whiteboard can offer considerable savings to power bills and also be implemented in schools around the world. M learning is a viable option for access to information anywhere As a learning tool in all areas with access to mobile phone connection Viable low cost solution to economically depressed areas within the western world and helps bypass the use of smartphones, an expensive alternative to mobile technology in the western world

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Technology in African Education: ICT from the Bottom Up

by Kevin Martin on Jan 14, 2012

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