How Technology is Improving Access to Education in Africa

Technology is revolutionizing education in Africa by increasing access, personalizing learning, and supporting both students and teachers. The growth of EdTech startups across the continent demonstrates the potential for positive change in education.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for innovation and technology-based educational solutions in Africa. Regardless of challenges such as internet access and infrastructure, online education will gradually supplant traditional in-person classes, especially given the positive reaction it has received.

This article explores how technology is improving education in Africa and highlights some innovative EdTech startups that are making meaningful impact.

Benefits of Technology in Education in Africa

Technology has brought about numerous benefits to the education sector in Africa, helping to address long-standing challenges and improve the quality of education across the continent. Some of the key benefits of technology in education in Africa include:

Increased Access to Education: One of the most significant barriers to education in Africa has been the lack of access to quality learning materials. Technology has made it possible for students in remote or underserved areas to access educational resources and materials online. Students in these places formerly had limited access to high-quality educational resources because of their remote locations; but, with the rise of digital technologies, this has all changed. This has helped bridge the gap in educational access, reaching students who previously had limited opportunities.
Quality Educational Content: Online platforms and digital resources provide access to a vast library of high-quality educational content, including textbooks, videos, interactive lessons, and simulations. This content can supplement traditional teaching materials and enhance the learning experience where students are better able to grasp abstract ideas and put their knowledge into practice.
Personalized Learning: Educational technology can adapt to individual student needs, providing personalized learning experiences. This helps students learn at their own pace and grasp concepts more effectively, improving overall comprehension and retention. Online learning allows for flexibility in scheduling and location. Students can access educational materials and participate in classes from their homes or other convenient locations, reducing the need for physical infrastructure and travel.
Global Connectivity: Technology facilitates connections between students and educators across the globe, promoting cultural exchange and collaboration on a global scale. This can broaden students' horizons and prepare them for a more interconnected world.
Data Analytics for Improvement: Educational technology platforms often collect data on student performance, which can be analyzed to identify areas where students may be struggling. This data-driven approach allows for targeted interventions and continuous improvement in teaching methods.
Accessibility for Students with Disabilities: Technology can be adapted to meet the needs of students with disabilities, providing tools and resources that make learning more inclusive and equitable.

EdTech StartUps in Africa

From democratizing access and personalizing learning, these startups are harnessing the power of technology to break down barriers and foster a new era of learning, one where knowledge knows no boundaries and opportunities abound.

uLesson

uLesson was founded in 2019 by Sim Shagaya, a Nigerian entrepreneur. The primary goal of uLesson was to address the educational challenges faced by African students by leveraging technology to offer high-quality, curriculum-aligned content.

The startup first launched by providing a product pack of SD cards and dongles with pre-recorded videos for K-12 students. They have gone on to add quizzes, homework help feature and education content for learners in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, and Gambia.

In March 2020, uLesson officially launched the uLesson Education application, which introduced the Junior High School library.

In March 2023, uLesson unveiled Miva, an open university and a few months after, got licensed to begin operating in Nigeria.

M-Shule

M-Shule is the first personalized knowledge-building platform in Africa to connect learners to tailored learning, evaluation, activation, and data (LEAD) tools over SMS. Meaning “mobile school” in Swahili, M-Shule combines SMS with artificial intelligence to reach offline or low-income communities with self-paced, interactive, and personalized resources to power their success.

The startup's mission is to improve the quality of education in Africa by leveraging mobile technology to deliver tailored learning support and resources to students.

M-Shule was founded by Claire Mongeau and Julie Otieno in 2016.

Edukoya

Founded in 2021 by Honey Ogundeyi, Edukoya builds online education content and offers online tutoring for students and their parents.

The platform offers a range of features such as a 24/7 exam preparation and homework help, a question bank with step-by-step workings and personalized performance tracking systems.

In 2021, they raised $3.5 million in pre-seed funding.

Kidato

Kidato is an online school for K-12 kids with a vision to provide a high-quality, affordable education to the growing middle class in Africa. The edtech startup was founded in 2020 with the mission of leveraging technology to improve the quality of primary education in Africa. The founders believed that by providing personalized and interactive online learning experiences, they could address some of the challenges faced by students and parents in the region.

With a teacher to student ratio of 1:5, the Y-Combinator backed startup is looking to build the largest online school in Africa.

Gradely

Founded in 2019, Gradely is a digital education startup that supports parents and K-12 schools with personalizing learning resources to help students improve academically. With personalized learning paths for each student, new students take an initial diagnostic test to begin their learning journey in standalone mode and then take recommended assessments and video lessons to improve.

The startup uses analytics and data-driven recommendations to help schools and parents intervene in real-time to children’s learning gaps. Through weekly adaptive homework tests taken on the web or mobile device, Gradely is able to tell how much of a topic a child understands and recommend specific practice sets, remedial videos or tutoring.

Conclusion

Technology is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform education in Africa by expanding access, improving quality, and fostering innovation. While challenges like limited internet access and infrastructure remain, the benefits of integrating technology into the education sector are significant and hold promise for the future of education in Africa.