Why Ethiopia’s Digital Learning Dream Needs an Update to Reach Out-of-School Children.

Education is alarmingly becoming out of reach for millions of Ethiopian children. Dislodged by political instability, extreme levels of poverty, and climate change, at least 13 million children remain out of school, according to a report by UNICEF. While guaranteeing the presence of students in school compounds could remain elusive, leveraging technology offers contemporary alternatives. Last month’s Edtech Mondays, a radio show produced by Shega Media and Technology in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, explored potential solutions.

Hosted by Rediet Meshesha, a group of experienced members from Ethiopia’s budding edtech community highlighted the current hurdles preventing children from attending school.

Abdi Abraham, CEO of Enkoy Technologies, a company focused on digital learning, cited the proliferation of obstacles to free movement as one of the key factors. He also pointed to the growing necessity of extricating educational content from the bounds of fixed times and space for a holistic approach to education.

“We need to tailor content to the needs of the consumers,” Abdi noted.

He attributed the successful expansion of inclusive education to the ability to nurture a flexible modality bolstered by technology.

While Ethiopia has made significant headway over the past two decades in accelerating enrollment, with close to 27 million students attending classes in 2023, actual presence at schools is not always guaranteed. A web of cultural, economic, and political forces often collude to undermine successful completion.

Abel Abebu, Co-founder and general manager of Think Hub ET, has also observed a decline in academic interests at lower grade levels. He noted that a sense of hopelessness assails children when they notice that academic careers cannot create a good living for their families.

“Loss of interest after feedback from their social interest is a critical factor,” Abel noted.

Think Hub Et’s Co-founder also identified rising anxieties induced by frequent changes to the curriculum as a recent phenomenon. He said the high failure rate of high school graduates in university entrance exams exacerbated the sense of unease felt by students.

“Why should I care if ultimately going to fail is a question that looms in most children’s minds,” Abel noted.

His notion finds footing in recent reports of high failure rates in university entrance exams, with a little over 55,000 students obtaining a passing grade from nearly two million test takers across two years.

Nardos Amde, a senior E-learning designer, referred to economic status and low infrastructure development as the main deterrents to education. He said the challenges become compounded in rural and semi-urban areas.

Cultural perceptions around gender and physical disabilities also serve as a major impediment to students attending classes across Ethiopia. The guests on last month’s Edtech Mondays pointed to the possibility of creating curricula tailored to prevailing socio-economic conditions instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Nardos hinted at ways of leveraging existing infrastructures like television, radio, and mobile phone networks for disseminating educational content. He suggested mass awareness creation campaigns, especially around higher education facilities, for maximum impact.

While adult illiteracy rates have historically been high in Ethiopia, at around 50% for the last decade, its impact on children’s education remains inadequately explored. Language, technology, and skills gaps between the children and parents appear to have entrenched existing biases towards education.

Abel stressed the importance of tailoring EdTech solutions to address barriers faced by specific areas and communities. He called for a receptive attitude to students' experiences instead of coming up with a solution and expecting adoption.

“Human-centered design principles should be kept in mind to achieve inclusion,” Abel said.

He also pointed to Think Hub ET’s product, Exam Time, which allows for offline usage, as one way of tackling the infrastructure barriers related to internet coverage. Abel acknowledged that digital literacy challenges remain a hurdle in some parts of the country, with students struggling to sign up or access Edtech services successfully.

Even though Ethiopia’s Education Ministry envisions the gradual implementation of a five-year Digital Education Strategy, it continues to face setbacks related to standards and infrastructure. Lack of adequate funding limited educational data analytics, and underdeveloped regional platforms have also impeded progress.

Calls for local community engagement to enable the swift adoption of EdTech tools were also sounded by guests on the monthly show.

Nardos highlighted the potential positive outcomes from creating community information technology centers to enable a swift uptake in digital literacy skills. Abdi complemented the intuition by reflecting on the implications of nurturing community leaders with demonstrable digital skills. He pointed out how a single ICT community center could inspire several individuals to interact with digital tools that would have been out of reach.

Amid the global rise in potential Edtech solutions, technology developers have often faced a formidable barrier in the form of regulatory red tape. Although the forces pushing children out of school could emerge from various sources, returning academic pursuits into their lives requires policy support.

Abel indicated the need to find recognition from education authorities and pinned future success on a mindset shift. He explained how lasting solutions emerge from those engaged in the Edtech industry and not necessarily from policymakers.

“I don’t think most actors in the Edtech community are motivated by profits,” Abel noted.

He further elucidated by outlining how the revenue generated from Edtech tools would not be enough to maintain a commercial-oriented institution if not for the desire to improve lives. Abel astutely pointed out how most Edtech companies survive for only a few years due to tax burdens while operating in a cost-intensive operational model.

“The government's policies need to be aligned with education technology providers,” he said.

Nardos echoed the sentiment by indicating the implications of removing or reducing tariffs and tax duties on Edtech tools. He also outlined how the government could access affordable Edtech training, tools, and certifications by partnering with local actors.

“All children in and out of school would benefit from the collaboration,” Nardos noted.