Information and Communication Technology, in particular, has changed the way many public and private sector programs are carried out, including education, which has greatly benefited from innovation and improvements in teaching methods for teachers and self-learning for students across the country.
Every year, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Tanzania hold a 'CSO Week,' which brings together the government and various civil society organizations from the public and private sectors to discuss different issues for the benefit of Tanzanian communities.
In 2023, CSO Week was held from October 23 to October 27 in Arusha with the theme "Tech and Society: Then, Now, and Beyond, focusing on the opportunities and challenges emerging from the evolving world of technology."
Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, a private sector charity arm of Vodacom Tanzania PLC, has been engaging in a number of initiatives in support of the promotion of inclusive education, climate action, and health, among many others. Leveraging mobile technology solutions to create social impact in communities
During this year’s CSO week, the Foundation was among the key participants, presenting specifically on the role of mobile technology applications and its contribution to the education sector, by developing innovative educational solutions. For instance, its e-learning platform, e-Fahamu, and the critical of digital education in bridging educational gaps in the country.
The e-Fahamu portal was established in 2017 to aid learners in the country with access to digitized learning materials. The portal curates local and international content, tailored for pupils and teachers in the formats of videos and PDF content. The portal also hosts content from the Tanzania Institute of Education, a digital library that contains secondary school resources like textbooks.
The e-Fahamu portal is a zero-rated platform available through the Vodacom network, accessed using a mobile phone or computer.
The objective of developing a portal like e-Fahamu is to ensure learners in the country, have access to learning materials at their convenience, as well as to facilitate access to education to those who have not a chance at receiving formal education.
The Foundation works in collaboration with state and non-state actors to extend the services of the e-Fahamu portal in secondary schools. It has teamed up with the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) and African Child Project (ACP), since 2019 under the auspices of the School Connectivity Project of which the partnership consolidates resources such as digital tools, training of teachers and internet connectivity to enable schools to be imparted with digital skills and digital education.
To date, the Foundation through the partnership, has reached more than 600,000 pupils, 900 secondary schools, and over 15,000 teachers.
Speaking at CSO Week 2023 on how the government is working to create an enabling environment for ICT, Innovation, and digital education to thrive in the country. The Director of Knowledge Management - COSTECH, Engineer Samson Mwela, said, “The government has been working on policies and frameworks that support growth through innovation. The National Commission for Science and Technology COSTECH has been at the forefront of innovation, through the Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi). Similarly, many programs have emerged including Vodacom Digital Accelerator. To ensure technology brings progress, we must relook at policies that limit innovation or are outdated.”
"The government has started building the capacity of teachers to ensure they have the skills to technology and use the equipment that is being provided in schools. We have started with 15 teacher training colleges, and the second phase will reach 70 colleges," Engineer Mwela added.
The Director of Knowledge Management - COSTECH pointed out that there is still room for improvement on the delivery of online learning materials- the materials need to be interactive to foster engagement of digital content.
Vodacom Tanzania Foundation believes that a conducive learning environment is pivotal for enhancing learning outcomes. Therefore, it focuses on improving well-structured classrooms and providing sanitation facilities, especially for students with special needs.
Explaining how the e-Fahamu program is paving the way for the use of technology for the benefit of the community, the Director of Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, Zuweina Farah, said the Foundation’s aim is to facilitate access to educational resources for pupils and teachers to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning.
Elaborating on how teachers can use technology and digital education in teaching to enhance student effectiveness, the Founder and Executive Director of the African Child Projects, Catherine Kimambo, said, "Teachers should embrace technology and not see it as a threat. They should view it as a complementary tool to enhance the good work they are already doing. This requires capacity building and training."
"Vodacom Tanzania Foundation and African Child Projects have championed ICT application in remote areas of the country. We have worked together in various ways in ensuring technology, through internet connectivity, improves learning outcomes through training and e-learning," Ms. Kimambo concluded.
_0.jpg?itok=QU87XW8D){kind=tracking}
.jpeg?itok=vCj6bCRe)
