Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can contribute to universal access to education, equality of education and provision of quality teaching and learning environment for teachers and students as well as more efficient education management, governance and administration. UNESCO has been taking a holistic approach to promoting ICT in education in Eastern Africa.
UNESCO believes ICT can lead to improved student learning and better teaching methods. Therefore, we will seek to increase students’ exposure to educational ICT through curriculum and create positive impact on student achievement and skill improvement among teachers in terms of access to education, knowledge comprehension and practical skills.
There are a number of ICT in Education in Eastern Africa. With the support of the Chinese Government, the UNESCO-China Funds-in-Trust (CFIT) project was launched in 2012. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda are among the CFIT project countries. The CFIT Project supports teacher training via ICT. The CFIT Project in these three countries has conducted over 50 training workshops and trained over 2,000 educators; over 80 teacher training modules or policy documents have been revised or developed, and are being institutionalized; over 1300 pieces of equipment has been purchased and installed; 3 online teaching and learning platforms have been established, linking over 10 teacher training/education institutions. CFIT project countries have also joined a number of CFIT study tours for peer learning and South-South cooperation. CFIT country educators are also supported to join the UNESCO-China Great Wall Fellowship to take specialized courses in universities in China.
With the support of the S. Korean Government, the UNESCO-Korean Funds-in-Trust (KFIT) project was launched in 2016, with a focus on using ICT to advance education quality. Rwanda is one of the beneficiary countries. So far, the KFIT Rwanda project has trained over 300 teachers and lecturers on the UNESCO ICT Essentials for Teachers, Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) management and design, ODeL for disabilities, and knowledge societies etc. Four documents: the ICT Teacher Training Initiative Mapping, Certification Standards of the ICT Essentials for Teachers, and M&E Framework based on the ICT Essentials, and the Rwandan Knowledge Societies Policy Handbook were published. The UNESCO Guidelines for the inclusion of persons living with disabilities on ODeL have been integrated into the Digital Talent Policy (DTP) of the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MITEC).
UNESCO also participated in the 6th Innovation Africa Conference as the Partner for Education that took place in Nairobi, Kenya under the official patronage of the Kenyan Ministry of Education in September 2016. In May 2017, UNESCO organized the Conference on Higher Education and Research in Djibouti which was joined by the 13 Member States covered by the regional office. ICT integration in Education policies in higher education was discussed. In addition, UNESCO also supported the Kenyan ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (KICT-CFT) teacher training by working with the Teachers Service Commission in Kenya, 100 Kenyan teachers were trained. UNESCO also supported the formulation of the Open Educational Resources policies in Madagascar and Djibouti.
Related links:
Capacity building at the University of Rwanda to foster Distance Education and ELearning Growth
Mobilizing Higher Education and Distance Learning assets, capabilities and resources