UNESCO: Lack of access constituting barriers to e-learning in low-income countries

0
343

Opeyemi Adelere

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of schools in 191 countries, leaving about 1.5 billion students and 63 million primary and secondary teachers out of school across the globe.

According to the Teacher Task Force, an international alliance coordinated by UNESCO, using data from the UN agency’s Institute for Statistics and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), half of the out of school pupils , estimated around 830 million learners, do not have a computer, and more than 40 percent of them lack internet access at home.

- Advertisement -

In sub-Saharan Africa, around 56 million, almost half of the population, are said to be living in areas not served by mobile network, with nearly 90 per cent of students having no household computers and 82 per cent unable to get online.

- Advertisement -

Although having a mobile phone can support young learners in accessing information or connecting with their teachers, teachers in sub-Saharan Africa, including those in countries with reliable infrastructure and household connectivity, are also struggling with the rapid transition to online learning. There is therefore need to have teachers trained for them to deliver distance and online education.

- Advertisement -

According to UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, the inequality evident in low-income countries are threats to distance education, particularly, continuity in learning at this time of unprecedented education disruption.

In order to develop solutions to make digital learning more inclusive and help countries mobilise resources for the provision of remote education through hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech approaches, UNESCO and partners, had in late March, launched the Global Educational Coalition, comprising of 90 public and private partners which included the ITU, sister UN agency the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other entities that support teachers.

-Advertisement-


Series of webinars, with participants from across the globe, are being held on weekly basis to address different topics and strategies to maintain continuity in learning processes, particularly for the less privileged children and to ensure that all students return to the classroom when schools re-open.

“While efforts to provide connectivity to all must be multiplied, we now know that continued teaching and learning cannot be limited to online means.

“To lessen already existing inequalities, we must also support other alternatives including the use of community radio and television broadcasts, and creativity in all ways of learning,” said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General.

We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this. Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.

-Advertisement-

-Want to get the news as it breaks?-

- Advertisement -