Technology has affected so many areas of education in Africa. From how students learn, education professionals enhance their skills, enrich classroom environments, and how administrative sections manage grades, maintain security, and track payments.
Almost all countries in Africa have worked hard to improve access to education, but there is still much work to be done.
The quality of Africa’s education systems is still an issue that people think technology could be part of its solution.
There is the possibility that technology will help expand access to education and improve education’s efficacy and efficiency in Africa.
Notwithstanding the difficulties and the problems African countries face, it is evident that most of them are making their way into the current educational technology.
The current digital revolution in Africa has led to a boom in trials using information and communication technology in education, both in and out of the classroom.
Technology has taken learning beyond the classroom, and it is no longer limited to curriculums and scores on tests.
Before the Technology age, for you to get access to any books, you would have to go to a physical library, but now, the world is the library we have. With your mobile phones that have internet, you have access to all information in the world at your fingertips.
With the help of Google search, one can research any topic and get valuable materials. And these materials, like dictionaries, data, encyclopedias etc., are being updated regularly to keep the information up to date.
Increasingly, platforms like YouTube serve as classrooms, where people can find instructional materials and develop new skills on almost any subject.
Innovation, design, function, and solutions are speedily coming from African youths and even juveniles armed with a smartphone and the desire to broaden their horizons.
For instance, two Nigerian kids, One and Anesi Ikhianosime, at the age of 9 and 11, respectively, taught themselves how to write code and built a functional, fast browser for feature and low-end phones.
Also, in Namibia, 19-year-old Kapenda Ndimuwanakupa, who completed his education in a state-run secondary school in Windhoek, was able to secure a media internship in Germany by “crowdfunding” to partly cover his costs using a video that he posted on YouTube.
Technology has done not only students and pupils good but also for teachers. It allows teachers to expand their influence beyond the classroom; with lessons on sites like YouTube and video conferencing platforms, and chat platforms, they provide lessons to students and give guidelines with time and space, not barriers.
It is essential to know that technology has positive and negative effects on Africa’s education systems with all these said.
Students, teachers and lecturers ought to take advantage of the positive impacts and try as much as possible to eliminate the adverse effects.
One of the good technology has done for Africa is that it has made distance learning and online education an essential part of the education system in the 21st century.
Also, technology has enhanced teaching and learning in Africa. The introduction of digital cameras, projectors, computers, PowerPoint presentations, etc., has become good sources for teachers to help students learn and understand teachings easily.
With the help of visual explanation, learning has become more fun for students.
Technology has made African students more globalised, whereby students can meet their counterparts through video conferencing without travelling to a particular destination.
For instance, African students can learn foreign languages online by getting a teacher to teach them this language from another country.
Technology has removed geographical limitations to learning in Africa.
There are so many online degree programmes now in Africa that don’t require you to be present in person before you can attend lectures. With your internet, you are good to connect from any part of the world.
Even some universities in Africa now take their courses online.
The use of technology has helped students to express their opinions. It has promoted manipulating existing information and allows one to create knowledge to produce a tangible product or a given instructional purpose.
Haven looked at some of the positive impacts technology has had on the African education system; it is necessary to look at its adverse effects on Africa’s education system.
Because the student has depended on technology for everything, the writing skills of most young Africans have reduced.
Again, there is no total concentration on academics as all students have relied on the internet for an academic solution.
Cheating in exams and tests has also increased with graphical calculators, high tech watches, mini cameras, and similar devices.
Being ever connected to the online world has resulted in the practical loss of focus and concentration in academics.
Though the technological innovations in the education sector come with various negativities, it hasn’t stopped their usage and applications; instead, efforts are being made to improve the adverse effects of getting the best out of technological advancements for education.
As innovations continue to come on board and old ones perfected, Africa, as a growing continent with a drive towards overall development, will continue to be beneficiaries due to its youthful tech- generation, whose adventure into the tech world is expanding due to the need for growth and development.
