Building The Future: Enhancing Learning And Skills Through Technology In Sub-saharan Africa By Shuaib Afegbua

In the first six years of my early career, I have worked supporting large organisation implementing intervention programs in several states of Nigeria. As a result, I have gained insight into the challenges learners and teachers face. Let’s break the ice; learning is still primarily a traditional method of classroom-based teacher-led instruction. There is an increasing number of out-of-school pupils and low-quality teachers; One must admit there are other factors aside from technology for this. These include infrastructure challenges, distance from the learning center, health, economic hardship, displacement from conflicts, etc.

The advent of technology and innovative learning methods have opened new ways to revolutionise learning in Sub-Saharan Africa, and all stakeholders within this region must embrace this opportunity. This will significantly impact advancing education and skills from access, delivery, training, and outcomes. At the entry stage is access to quality learning; technology removes that barrier by providing access to unlimited and well-curated learning resources. In addition, with the right technology tools, we can improve collaboration and communication among learners and teachers and enhance learning outcomes with engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Furthermore, there has been an advancement in how teacher training can be delivered through online courses, improved instructional strategies, and workshops. These innovations allow educators to try methods and ideas to create better student learning experiences.

In what ways can technology enhance learning and skills? We can accomplish this in many ways, but we must pursue a digital literacy program to help users acquire the necessary skills and awareness to maximise the gains. Online access to educational resources in different formats includes lectures, videos, and graphical tools, allowing students remote access regardless of location. There is a proliferation of mobile devices, and it has presented an opportunity to deliver learning to a broader audience and those who cannot attend conventional learning centers; learning material can be custom-made and installed on a mobile device for learners without internet access, the nomads and those restricted as unwellness.

One area we can explore is the gamification of learning using game-like materials to deliver educational content to learners. This will help students engage and be participatory. And more on learner engagement, our schools and learning centers should invest in interactive learning tools like whiteboards and voice-controlled devices. Finally, we must not forget that Sub-Saharan Africa is primarily community-driven; the advocacy for digital literacy must involve the community and family units.

For sub-Saharan Africa to compete with the rest of the globe, we must seize this opportunity and capitalise on the gains. The future will be driven by technology and knowledge; we are already in the digital economy era; hence we must ensure policies that will usher in our people and develop the required skills to compete.

About the Author

Shuaib is an experienced software engineering Leader and knowledge expert. Additionally, an accomplished founder passionate about building innovative solutions to complex business problems and teaching. He shares deep technical articles via his medium channel https://medium.com/@afegbua