Connectivity In Africa: The Snail Effect On E-Education

Several African countries such as Kenya, have led and dominated innovation and technology development in Africa as a result of amongst others, the wide spread connectivity within the country. The ITU 2013 report details the different factors that lead to the poor connectivity across Sub-Saharan Africa. The South African case is one that reflects how a variety of factors can delay the adoption of good policies to improve education technology use. South Africa is one of the countries still lagging behind with connectivity through the lack of network infrastructure, often placing a hindrance on achieving mobile or electronic education within schools. The President of South Africa recently revealed the plan to roll out broadband across eight South African municipalities. This is a much needed approach as only recently private network costs have seen a reduction in prices with private companies reducing their data costs after an uproar from opposition political parties demanding that prices should reflect those of other country counterparts.

While projects such as the digital classrooms, initiated by the South African government in the Gauteng province may face various challenges, the ICT e-education white paper is now being realized. Increased Internet access, reduced connectivity costs across all districts, continuous teacher professional development and support i.e. the Vodacom led project, and an enthusiasm to adopt the “technology enhanced cultural” by all affected stakeholders are but some of the factors that will firmly place South Africa amongst the leading countries towards a sustainable agenda of technology enhanced education.