…Airtel Malawi earmarked to connect 100 schools in the partnership.
….17 schools connected in Malawi so far: 5 e-learning websites zero rated for Airtel Malawi subscribers.
Africa, 20 November 2024: Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has today announced that its five-year partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aimed at transforming education across the continent, has connected over 1,500 schools to the internet, trained 17,000 teachers, and reached nearly a million learners with quality digital education resources across 13 African countries.
Malawi has successfully connected 17 schools and plans to connect 10 more by December 2024. To date, 18,800 students from government schools across the country have benefited from the initiative. Airtel Malawi is currently working with UNICEF and Ministry of Education to conduct capacity building sessions with teachers from the benefitting schools in order to enhance their ICT skills.
The Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership was launched in 2021 as part of Airtel Africa’s $57 million commitment to support the development of education and bridge the digital divide for vulnerable children in remote communities in collaboration with African governments.
Since the commencement of the partnership, Airtel Africa together with its 13 other operations across Africa has prioritised the accessibility of online learning resources, including zero-rated educational platforms and teacher training, to support equitable learning opportunities for children in Africa.
Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, speaking on the success of the partnership while marking this year’s World’s Children’s Day said:
“Our mission is to transform lives, and through our collaboration with UNICEF, we are witnessing the profound impact that connectivity and digital resources can have on Africa’s children and teachers. For every school we have connected and for each teacher trained on using these digital tools, we are taking tangible steps toward realizing our commitment to bridging the digital divide, advancing educational equality and restating our commitment to the relentless pursuit of a better future for African children on the continent.
According to Mr. Taldar, “by equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on how to use the digital tools, Airtel Africa and UNICEF are providing Africa’s children, particularly those in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven world. This is why we are celebrating with the children on this special occasion of World Children’s Day, specially dedicated to them and all the effort aimed at securing and improving their future.
Airtel Malawi’s Acting Managing Director, Abdul Shaik, speaking on the success of the partnership while marking this year’s World’s Children’s Day said: ”It’s amazing to witness the positive impact the project has had on learners and as well as teachers in Malawi with most of the benefiting schools showcasing an improved pass rate in the national examinations.”
Shaik emphasized that advancing digital learning in government schools is cultivating a culture of inclusivity, preparing learners for the future ensuring that no child is left behind.
Apart from Malawi, other countries transforming education with digital learning through the partnership are , Congo B, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
