[Column] Jens Ischebeck: M-Learning in Senegal
The use of m-learning - education disseminated and accessed by means of mobile devices such as smartphones - is one exciting potential way to boost the Senegalese education system. Senegal is one of several countries in Sub-Sahara Africa with an education system that is not accessible to all. This is reflected in the statistics relating to the Senegalese education system. Recent UNICEF statistics show, for example, that female literacy in Senegal is as low as 56.2%. Net enrolment in primary school is just over 76% with not all students making it to the end of their primary school studies. When it comes to enrolment in secondary school, the rates are just over 30% for both male and female students. Something needs to be done in order to ensure that literacy rates improve, especially for girls, and that all students get full access to education. Mobile based learning is a powerful edtech tool for solving this problem. Before we can understand the benefits of m learning in Senegal, though, it is crucial to understand why the education infrastructure as it is is not working for all.
The need for m-learning: education infrastructure in Senegal
Several factors impact negatively on the education infrastructure in Senegal. Child labour is a key one, with many children being encouraged by their families to work to earn a living instead of going to school. This is due to high levels of poverty in Senegal, which is classed as one of the main low income countries in Sub-Sahara Africa. Around 37% of children do some form of work. In addition, the shortage of schools throughout the country (and especially in rural areas) means that many children need to walk many miles each day to get to school, which can make the journey to school seem less than worthwhile. Poor sanitation and healthcare can also mean that children miss many days of school, though healthcare initiatives from NGOs and other organisations are seeking to change this by providing vaccinations and treatments free of charge. When it comes to female students, high rates of child marriage also mean that many girls are taken out of school at a young age to stay in their husband's family home instead. As many as 1 in 3 women and girls in Senegal are, or were, married as a child. It is clear, then, that simply introducing a free mobile learning edtech initiative to Senegal (or indeed any online platform such as MOOC), will not solve Senegal's problems with its education system unless it is also accompanied by initiatives that counter poverty, child labour and child marriage.
Is m-learning a viable solution for Senegal?
Mobile learning and e-learning such as MOOC will only work in a given country if citizens of that country have the technology available for them to take advantage of these new online courses and other initiatives. Senegal has a very good telecommunications system, and when it comes to mobile phones in particular, subscribers to mobile phone services increased tenfold between 2005 and 2012 from 1.3 million to 13.3 million. Given that there are roughly 13 million inhabitants in Senegal, this suggests that a large percentage of the population has access to a mobile phone and all of the features that come with it such as educational apps. Nevertheless, in more poverty stricken areas of the country, initiatives providing free mobile phones to anyone who needs one to ensure that m-learning will be for all in Senegal. Interest in e-learning in Senegal has been growing, particularly as more and more cyber cafes spring up in Dakar and more and more institutions start offering online courses based in the country. These e-learning institutions are most usually not universities, but rather language schools or skills based institutions offering diplomas and e-learning experiences often in the short term.
There is a rising amount of local and regional companies which provide products and materials for online courses and exam preparations, the classical fields of m-learning. This African providers guide illustrates a list of edtech startups in several countries.
The future of m-learning in Senegal
Something is needed to address the crisis in Senegal's education system, and mobile based learning could well be an important part of that. M learning looks particularly promising when we consider the strengths of the Senegalese telecommunications network. However, it will be vital to integrate any new educational platforms introduced in Senegal with measures to combat the key educational hurdles facing young people including child marriage, child labour, poverty, and a shortage of schools and universities. Only then can mobile based learning truly work for all.
Jens Ischebeck is an mLearning, eLearning and Online Courses specialist.
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