GEC Forum to focus on investments in digital learning in Africa

24 / 05 / 2021

By Marwa Nassar -

The Global Education Coalition’s virtual Forum – due to fall on Africa Day on May 25 – will focus on boosting investment in leveraging technology to support education systems in Africa.

Investing in this score is an opportunity to create diverse cross-sectoral partnerships to build a new future of education for the continent building on goals as stipulated in the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016-2025), the Africa Union Agenda 2063 and the Incheon Declaration, and the Education 2030 agenda toward SDG4.

To support these connections, UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition (GEC), which counts 175 partners operating in 112 countries including 30 countries in Africa, will hold a virtual Forum celebrating Africa Day and exploring opportunities to harness technology to rebuild education systems that are more inclusive, equitable and effective in learning outcomes.

School closures due to COVID-19 around the world impacted education for millions of students. Interruptions to classroom-based instructions have widened existing inequalities for vulnerable populations and reduced access to learning for many of the world’s children and youth. In response, many governments in Africa quickly launched educational broadcasts via television, radio or online. While these initiatives are positive, alternatives to ensure continuity of learning they are not reaching the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups due to limited access to technology. At present, while 80% of African households have access to radio, only 34% have access to the internet and around 89% of learners in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to a computer at home. A year into the pandemic has illustrated African countries must create and support an enabling environment for the expansion of digital infrastructure to leave no one behind.

Discussions will draw lessons from education responses during the past year and explore opportunities to further invest in technology including open education resources to ensure continuous and equitable learning in Africa. By the end of the Forum, concrete proposals on how to support digital learning are expected, arising from active participation of GEC members.

The Global Education Coalition’s virtual Forum will bring together a cross section of actors from the African Union, multilateral organizations, EdTech organizations, private sector and Tech funds to discuss how to advance digital learning in Africa.