When the World Health Organization declared the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic, it signalled the beginning of a new era for education. The circumstances of an unprecedented public health emergency, also marked by an education crisis, paradoxically appear to be a window of opportunity – one with the potential to transform education on a global scale for years to come.
Since March 2020, 185 countries and territories have decreed the closure of schools for more than a billion students, and the need for States to change learning models has become all the more pressing. The global shift means Africa must reposition its education ecosystems as part of this movement for change, in order to meet the major challenge of ensuring continuity in quality education for all.
Several governments have turned away from traditional methods of learning so as to preserve educational continuity while limiting the spread of the virus. National strategies for responding to the pandemic have turned towards alternative forms of education, where teachers and students are no longer physically present.
All schoolwork is now done at home. How can distance education and the quality of learning be ensured for all students, including the most vulnerable? There are numerous possibilities – such as radio, television, printed materials, digital platforms, tablets, and smartphones – but not all offer the same learning opportunities. And, considering the wide range of local realities, to what extent can such channels help students pursue education through distance learning?