Kenya gears up for 2024 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference

 

Muhomo Primary School English teacher Salome Burudi using digital learning devices to teach grade three pupils at their institution at Matete in Lugari on June 17, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Kenya is set to participate in an inaugural international Education Technology conference to be hosted by the MasterCard Foundation and the Nigerian government.

The 2024 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference themed ‘Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa’ in line with the African Union’s Year of Education will take place next month.

The conference will be hosted jointly by the Federal Government of Nigeria and Mastercard Foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

The conference will provide a platform for various technology companies in Kenya to showcase the country's innovations in the education sector.

Conversations will center on the current state of the EdTech ecosystem, emerging trends, the role of EdTech in solving Africa’s educational challenges and policies that are needed to foster an enabling environment for technology-enabled innovation in education.

“Technology is a powerful enabler of possibility and progress,” said Reeta Roy, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Mastercard Foundation.

“Across Africa, young innovators and entrepreneurs are bringing new energy and ideas to the education sector. Some are innovations that could shift ecosystems and the future for many,” he adds in a statement.

EdTech ecosystem stakeholders from across the continent working at the nexus of education and ICT are expected to share expertise on practical solutions that can increase access to quality, relevant and inclusive education in Africa.

“Africa could change the course of education delivery by investing in home-grown innovative solutions that bridge access and learning gaps.

“This conference is an opportunity to reflect on what is working and align on the actions needed to take African EdTech to the next level of impact," added Joseph Nsengimana, the Director for the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

Among individuals expected to attend the conference include expertise of young people, EdTech innovators, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, and data scientists.

The experts will accelerate progress toward digitally-enabled educational platforms and systems that deliver inclusive learning for all, according to Master Foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu will be among the officials to grace the event. Machogu will highlight Kenya's strides in education technology.

The EdTech Conference will underscore the role of technology in catalyzing transformation within Africa’s education ecosystem.

The conference comes after the Ministry of Education launched Open University Kenya (OUK) at Konza Technopolis by President William Ruto in August last year. However, the institution is facing respective implementation challenges.

During its launch, the President said that the University will provide an opportunity for ordinary Kenyans to pursue professional training of their choice from their respective localities.

The institution he said, “Will also build a formidable stock of qualified and skilled graduates for our market and beyond.”

The Open University will offer seven flagship programmes that include five (5) degree and two (2) postgraduate diploma programmes.

The first set of programmes to be offered to students from September this year according to the Ministry of Education include; the Bachelor of Data Science; Bachelor of Cyber security and Digital Forensics; Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Business; Bachelor of Technology Education; Bachelor of Economics and Statistics; Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology; and Postgraduate Diploma in leadership and Accountability.

“E-learning has no boundaries, making the establishment of OUK as an e-learning institution an opportunity to serve the educational needs of those in the diaspora and attract international students,” the Ministry says in its website.

By offering borderless higher education, OUK aims to put Kenya in the league of nations that provide and export higher education across borders.