BY Stephen Kenechi
Education sector stakeholders across Africa have asked governments on the continent to set and enforce clear standards for the integration of technology into school curricula.
About 600 stakeholders from over 30 countries in Africa and beyond came together in Abuja at the inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference.
The conference, which was held from July 8 to 10 in partnership with the Nigerian government, discussed strategies for harnessing education technology to drive inclusive learning in Africa.
Participants reached a consensus that integrating technology into learning systems on the continent is now a necessity, not a luxury.
The conference concluded with a collective call to action on 10 recommendations for governments and other education technology stakeholders:
At the conference, Peter Materu, chief programme officer at the Mastercard Foundation, said investing in education in Africa is not only about Africa.
“It is about investing in human capital for the world. It is also about building resilience in our learning systems to better prepare us for future shocks such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Discussions at the conference focused on the state of EdTech in Africa, assessment of technology-enabled solutions to the continent’s education challenges, data evidence, collaborations, funding, and opportunities to tap into emerging technologies.
Tahir Mamman, Nigeria’s minister for education, said technology has become an incentive that ignites the passion for learning.
Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister for communications, innovation, and digital economy, added that technology integration in school processes and curriculum is critical to guarantee inclusive learning.
“If we fail to reach all learners, we fail to fulfil our potential to revolutionise education,” the minister said.
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