Why African Innovations?
26th June 2020
While the mortality rate due to the coronavirus is relatively low in sub-Saharan Africa, the education sector of the continent has been heavily affected by Covid-19. Hundreds of millions of children in Africa are currently out of school due to the nation-wide closure introduced by countries.
The EdTech Hub felt it was vital to showcase innovations coming out of Africa that are specifically tailored to address the issues affecting the education sector from Kenya, Uganda and other parts of Africa.
We were joined by Esohe Eigbike, Anna Ekeledo and Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, all experts in the African EdTech landscape who asked important questions and made comments regarding the innovations addressing school closures due to COVID-19.
Many had hoped learning would somehow continue by leveraging available technological resources to keep children engaged during these uncertain times. Data shows that only 19 million out of 450 million children in Africa are using EdTech and that most of these users are watching TV.
Who were our pitchers ?
Boris Bulayev
Educate provides a skills-based education model for Ugandan youth. It leverages virtual platforms and radio for content delivery, and robocalls, interactive voice response, SMS and remote mentorship for follow-up assessment, engagement, and mentorship on starting appropriate projects and businesses (such as sack gardens).
Maria Rojas
Sun Books provides children in “off the grid” areas of Uganda and other parts of Africa access to quality educational resources. A tablet with preloaded contents and a solar panel charger is provided for kids to interact and learn while they are away from school.
Emma Caddy
Tiny Totos modified a high impact, low-cost preschool child-ed programme normally disseminated through a network of urban informal daycares to being a physical pack delivered directly to the homes of mother-clients, complemented and reinforced by digital and audio materials.
Speak thanks to our panellists;
Esohe Eigbike – Education Advisor, FCDO West Africa
Anna Ekeledo – Executive Director, AfriLabs
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA) – Africa Regional Director, Founders Institute
The EdTech Hub also appreciates every member of the action committee. They include individuals from The World Bank, FCDO, USAID, Overseas Development Institute, Acumen, ELMA Foundations, Bongo Hive, R4D, Future Fund for Education.
