Airtel, UNICEF to Accelerate Access to Education Through Digital Learning

Airtel Africa and UNICEF have reaffirmed their shared commitment to accelerate access to quality education by millions of children in Uganda and the rest of Africa, through digital learning. The commitment was made during Airtel Africa CEO, Segun Ogusanya’s courtesy visit to Kitende Secondary School in Entebbe.

The two parties launched the digital learning partnership in October 2021, to accelerate the roll-out of digital learning for children by connecting schools to the internet and ensuring free access to learning platforms in Uganda and other Airtel Operating Countries, to ensure that every child reaches their full potential.

The partnership was launched in Uganda at St. Mary’s Assumpta Girls High School in Adjumani district which was connected by internet to Kitende Senior Secondary School enabling students at the two schools to engage in a shared online biology classroom session.

Addressing guests at Kitende SSS Ogusanya said, “Airtel Africa is cognizant of the great value that education contributes to nations across Africa, which is why we are very deliberate in promoting it and empowering our people.” He adds, “We have done so from the time we set foot on this continent through various initiatives that are designed to give every child in Africa an equal opportunity to access quality education, no matter the circumstance.”

“Airtel Africa will continue to support the shared efforts of the Government of Uganda, by Identifying and collaborating with strategic partners like UNICEF to transform the way children learn and the education outcomes for the country. This, we commit to doing in Uganda and across 13 other countries where Airtel Africa operates,” Ogusanya pledged.

Airtel Uganda in partnership with UNICEF and the Government will connect 100 schools in the first 2 years, targeting to positively impact 54,750 learners and teachers in primary and secondary schools across the country but focusing on rural schools in West Nile and Karamoja regions.

Ogusanya commended Airtel Uganda, for the investments it has made and collaborations to accelerate internet connectivity in Uganda.

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Today, Airtel Uganda has deployed over 2,500 masts across the country to ease communication, payments, and money transfer while transforming the livelihoods of Ugandans through financial and digital inclusion.

The 4th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which is among the 17 SDGs established by the United Nations advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all children by creating easy access to education plus other learning opportunities.

Munir Safieldin UNICEF Representative to Uganda, said, “Through the Kolibri digital learning platform, the partnership will reach 30,000 learners and 100,000 with USSD/SMS-based content optimized for mobile.”

Currently, Kolibri is available in over 100 secondary schools with computer labs and 15 youth-friendly ICT centers in refugee settlements. An estimated 16,000 learners and 350 teachers in secondary schools have interacted with Kolibri. More than 1,080 adolescents and 200 trained volunteers are involved in out-of-school Kolibri implementation. To date over 7,500 registered users with over 200,000 content interactions,” noted.

The State Minister for Primary Education, Dr. Moriku Kaducu, acknowledged the positive contribution by Airtel and UNICEF which will be running for 5 years and targets to transform the way learners interact with teachers and the learning content.

Dr. Kaducu pledged the government to support the partnership in the form of a conducive policy framework and engagement.

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