E-learning Edge solutions

Advancing Digital Equity for All: community-based recommendations for developing Effective Digital Equity plans to close the Digital Divide and Enable Technology-Empowered learning.

In 2020, 94% of the world’s school population was affected by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving 1.6 billion learners in 190 countries without access to education, according to the United Nations (UN).

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria was already home to approximately 20% of the world’s out-of-school children and disruptions like school closures have denied even more learners access to school and its related services. 

The significant disruption to school systems means over 39 million learners in primary and secondary school across Nigeria (including those in camps for internally displaced people) have had their learning disrupted since the start of the pandemic. 

In Nigeria, government officials and other stakeholders have responded to this educational emergency through various interventions using technology, internet-based tools, and traditional media. 

But with more than half of Nigeria’s population not having access to the internet, most of these interventions are out of reach of millions of Nigerian learners — mainly due to the relatively high cost of technology and internet access for people living in poverty.

This has created a huge digital divide — inequalities in access to and use of new media technologies — in which children from rural areas and vulnerable communities in urban centres are unable to continue learning, while those from more affluent backgrounds or whose parents can afford remote learning leave them behind. 

As many as 28% of teachers reported that their students were not actively learning during the pandemic as a result of inaccessibility of digital tools for learning, according to The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre.

In Northern Nigeria, a volatile mix of herder/farmer clashes, banditry, and infiltration by jihadist groups has disrupted education for about 9 out of 10 learners in the region, who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to the many conflicts. The situation in Northern Nigeria is similar to those of many conflict situations around the world.

The impact of these learning losses cannot be overstated, as it further worsens existing inequalities in learning outcomes along socioeconomic and geographic lines.  

Our aim is to break the barriers that learner communities face in adopting reliable, high-speed internet and technology tools for learning. It is an important step in ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities. by providing support for low- or no-cost broadband programs. One way we intend to do is to invest in providing free or low-cost internet access in areas with limited access. we will also provide access to technology, such as computers, tablets, and internet-enabled phones, to those who may not be able to afford them. We will also focus on providing digital literacy training and professional learning opportunities to ensure they use the internet safely. 

We will learn from those impacted by inequitable access and provide opportunities for feedback and we co-develop clear goals and strategies with communities to craft a comprehensive digital equity plan which will help bridge the gap between those with access to technology and those without.

By investing in initiatives that provide access, education, and assistance, we can make sure that everyone has equal opportunities to use technology and benefit from the digital world.

Our solution targets the growing need to provide support for low- or no-cost broadband networks and access to technology devices.

Our solution benefits the following categories:

1. learners from rural areas, native learners, learners from urban areas, post secondary school learners, internal displaced people, highly mobile learners(e,g migratury, refugee, pr undocumented learners)  with weak access to internet, low digital literacy to enable them to take advantage of blending learning.

2. School leaders ( Districts, school administrator, principals) to co-develop clear goals and strategies with communities to craft a comprehensive digital equity plan to close the digital divide.

4. Learners with disabilities to allow for self-paced study and minimal adult supervision

Our team is well-positioned to deliver on closing the digital divide and ensuring technology empowered learning because we have a diverse set of skills that are tailored to this specific project. Our team consists of experienced software engineers, experienced project managers, and experienced data analysts that are knowledgeable in the latest technologies and trends. Additionally, we have a strong commitment to collaboration and communication, which allows us to effectively work together to identify solutions and execute them.

We are team with lived experience of the problem we are working on, was a victim of no access to technology resources and internet, I was in my final Class in secondary school preparing for my West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when the Covid 19 Started a month to the exam after which learning was disrupted, teachers couldn't get to student neither did student. They was no way for learning to continue and this really affect our preparation for the exam. 

In order to provide adequate solution to the needs of the population we want to serve, we have conducted extensive research into the demographics of our community, as well as engaging in conversations with school leaders and members of the community to better understand the challenges they face in accessing technology and the internet. We have also looked into the existing infrastructure and resources available to them, and have identified potential areas that could benefit from additional support.

We have also had a conversation with a Nigerian educational consultant a Ph.D holder in educational leadership and a member of Forbes as regards to the digital equity.

Our solution is innovative because it focuses on helping those who are underserved and lack access to the internet and digital resources. We raise public awareness and provide ongoing support for low- or no-cost broadband programs to those that need it most. We learn from those impacted by inequitable access and provide opportunities for feedback. Provide digital literacy training and professional learning opportunities. We also provide technical support and maintenance so that people can use the internet with confidence and we co-develop clear goals and strategies with communities to craft a comprehensive digital equity plan. Our goal is to empower individuals and communities with the skills and resources they need to succeed in the digital world.

Our goal over the next year in closing the digital divide is to make a significant impact by providing access to technology and digital literacy programs to enable technology-empowered learning. To achieve this, we plan to partner with local schools, libraries, and non-profit organizations to provide technology resources, such as computers and internet access, to underserved communities. We also plan to work with local experts to offer digital literacy classes and workshops to teach people how to effectively use technology. Additionally, we plan to collaborate with local businesses and corporations to secure funding and resources to help with our mission. We are confident that our combined efforts will make a meaningful impact in closing the digital divide.

Our core technology to enhance learning outcome for all learners through digital equity; is a combination of cloud computing, virtualization, big data and edge computing. This technology stack provides a secure and reliable foundation for delivering digital resources, applications, and services to underserved areas. Cloud computing ensures that the resources needed to bridge the digital equity are available anytime, anywhere. Virtualization enables us to host multiple applications on a single server, reducing the cost of hardware and software while increasing scalability, big data to support evidence based decisions that can inform systematic changes for leaders to deliver quality education. Finally, edge computing allows us to process data closer to where it is collected, reducing latency and providing a more secure connection. This combination of technologies allows us to bring digital resources to underserved communities and enable Technology-Empowered learning.

We'd be serving 1000 - 5000 learners, 500 school leaders and 200 communities for a start, and the next year we will be on track to double our numbers by working with the right partners.

Finance: raising sufficient funding to scale our operations and for a market launch.

Cultural Fit: Tackling the cultural sensitivities in many of our targets around education and Edtech most especially the Northern part of the country(Nigeria) where agriculture is more valued than education.

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We are focused on providing affordable access to the internet and digital technology. We are working to provide digital access to underserved communities by creating partnerships with local organizations and businesses, offering digital literacy programs, and providing technical support to those in need. We will also partner with local schools and libraries to provide access to digital resources, and are working to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to use technology to improve their lives. Ultimately, our goal is to create a fairer, more inclusive digital world.

To achieve financial sustainability, I believe it is important to focus on education and providing access to technology. We must ensure that everyone has access to the necessary resources, whether it be through educational programs, subsidies, or training. Our team will be well positioned to generate revenue to sustain our work by applying for grants from organizations dedicated to providing financial support for projects related to closing the digital divide and partnering with local businesses, non-profits, and government agencies that could potentially provide additional funds or resources. 

Additionally, we will create support to small businesses and entrepreneurs who are using technology to provide innovative solutions to the digital equity. By providing access to the resources they need, we can create an environment in which everyone can benefit from technological advancements.