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EdTech Monday is back with insightful conversations; See our 5 key learnings from February’s show

Recently, MEST Africa and Mastercard Foundation launched the first episode of the 2023 edition of Edtech Monday on Citi 97.3 FM.

EdTech Monday  Is Back With Insightful Conversations; See our 5 Key Learnings from February’s Show

The episode discussed “Mainstreaming Hybrid Model of Learning in Ghana” and featured expert panelists including Aba Brandful Ankrah, the Head of Pre-school at Vine Christian School, FJ Cava, the Chief Operating Officer of TECHAiDE; and Hilda Barasa, Africa Policy Lead at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and moderated by Nathan Quao, the host of the Citi Breakfast Show.

CONTEXT

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on education and training across Africa, with approximately 250 million learners in the region affected. In sub-Saharan Africa, around 20% of children risk being excluded from schooling by 2030, which could have dire consequences on the quality of education.

Below are 5 keyt learnings from the discussion which explored whether a hybrid model of learning could be the solution Ghana’s educational system needs.

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  1. Lack of digital skills and lack of support and training for educational providers are some challenges for the hybrid model of learning (FJ Cava, TECHAiDE).

  2. Parents play a major role in facilitating the hybrid model of learning because they have to guide, supervise and monitor the learning of their wards online and offline (Aba Brandful Ankrah - Head of Pre-school at Vine Christian School).

  3. Online learning may not be a suitable learning style for every child as most children need that physical touch so it is essential that the hybrid model is adapted to suit each child (Aba Brandful Ankrah - Head of Pre-school at Vine Christian School).

  4. The use of low-technological solutions such as radio and tv can facilitate learning and improve the hybrid models of learning (Hilda Barasa, Africa Policy Lead at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change)

  5. Digital literacy for children is also very important to protect the child from the dangers of the internet and to keep them safe while online (FJ Cava - COO, TECHAiDE).

The discussions also featured public opinions from students, educators, and technology experts.

Betty Adu-Gyamfi, a student and teacher, noted the convenience of online learning, while Daniel Amedza Phillips, Co-Founder of Scribble Works, advocated for a blend of online and in-classroom learning.

Prince Nana Kojo Boafo, a student at the International School Area, highlighted the benefits of recorded classroom lessons and immediate results from online practice tests.

“If my classroom lessons were recorded, it would be quite helpful as I can refer back to them if I miss something. Practising past questions on my computer and getting immediate results would also be efficient,” Prince Nana Kojo Boafo said.

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EdTech Mondays is an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation’s Regional Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT, aimed at finding solutions to Africa’s youth employment by closing the gap in access to quality education and advancing the integration of technology in education policies and practices across Africa. The Mastercard Foundation has partnered with MEST Africa, a pan-African technology institution, to bring EdTech Monday on the last Monday of every month.

About MEST

MEST, founded in Ghana in 2008, provides Africa-wide training, internal seed funding, and incubation for technology startups through a network of hubs located in Accra, Lagos, Cape Town, and Nairobi. Its program equips tech entrepreneurs with critical skills in software development, business, and communications.

MEST has trained over 500 entrepreneurs and invested in 80 startups across various industries, including SaaS, eCommerce, and Fintech. The program is primarily funded by the Meltwater Foundation, the non-profit arm of Meltwater, a global leader in media intelligence and Outside Insight.

#FeaturedBy: MEST

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