(3 minutes read)
· Covid-19, has inflicted severe damage to conventional
classroom education system since the imposition of lockdown is keeping
the class rooms empty
· USAID has come forward to invest in education programs to
prepare countries to adopt flexible learning systems, which can be
affordable and accessible to parents, particularly the poorer sections
of the people.
Covid-19, has inflicted severe damage to the conventional classroom
education system since the imposition of lockdown is keeping the class
rooms empty. That is forcing the governments to switch over to online
education, wherein students and teachers remain at home and regular
classes are imparted online. Covid-19 has facilitated this system of
education.
USAID has come forward to invest in education programs to prepare
countries to adopt flexible learning systems, which can be affordable
and accessible to parents, particularly the poorer sections of the
people. According to USAID, 1.5 billion students are affected by Covid
-19 due to inaccessibility to schools of learning causing
discontinuity in the learning systems, across the world. A good
number of these hapless children are in Africa.
Morocco is one country, which is in the forefront for implementing
online education. The Ministry of Education of Morocco has already
targeted one million students who have accessed the Ministry’s online
learning platform and lessons. Now it is trying to reach the youth,
numbering over million for continued learning. Experts opine that the
initiative of Morocco will be a role model for other African countries
to pursue online classes.
There are challenges to face including low internet penetration,
laptops and trained teachers to impart online classes in the mother
tongue for every country. This needs investments and building of
internet bandwidth. Morocco, being relatively resource rich, can
afford to spend money on these heads. That may not be the case with
most of the countries. The question now boils down to finding
resources to help children across Africa not alone during the Covid-19
days but beyond to switch to online education. There are several
children in Africa, who do not have access to schools since they live
in far flung areas. Lack of educational facilities also led to massive
problem of child labor in the continent. With a proper online
education system and last mile internet connectivity, a lot can be
achieved in Africa. The digital infrastructure also can be used for
tele-medicine, farmers’ education, skilling the youth, women
empowerment etc.
