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Technology is evolving rapidly and opening doors for a variety of sectors including education. In resource-poor settings and rural communities new technological advances create opportunities where none previously existed. New developments in education are becoming vital in Africa where some countries are finding that their education systems are not meeting community and societal demand, or are becoming too expensive.⁽²⁾ In some places there is no real guarantee of a quality education and the efficiency and availability of primary, secondary and university level education are not assured.⁽³⁾
 
To combat these problems throughout continental Africa, countries are embracing information and communications technology (ICT) to increase access to the Internet and expand educational curricula at all levels of schooling.⁽⁴⁾ E-learning, as this use of ICT in education is known, is quickly becoming an asset not only to the students but to communities and teachers as well. It provides the means for gaining stronger work skills, allows for global partnerships to develop, and increases the quality of education programmes.⁽⁵⁾ Expanding access to and the availability of e-learning programmes for students, teachers and businesses is a key to furthering continental development and growth.
 
This paper discusses the broad developments in e-learning technology spreading across continental Africa. It focuses specifically on how ICT, particularly mobile phones and applications, and e-learning are changing and shaping education on the continent. The benefits of e-learning and the challenges to advancement and implementation of new educational opportunities in Africa are also briefly outlined.
 
The emergence of information and communications technology in Africa
 
Technology and its content are changing communication and publications in schools. Interactive textbooks and educational games are being introduced into schools, creating an environment like an online digital classroom.⁽⁶⁾ In Africa, these types of environments are being introduced into both urban and rural settings, especially in areas in which reliable power sources have not previously been readily available.⁽⁷⁾
 
The rise of mobile technology was one of the most revolutionary steps in technological growth in recent times and it is particularly interesting in Africa because mobile services are well developed and have grown out of necessity.⁽⁸⁾ Some of the most innovative advances in mobile services have occurred in resource-poor settings, and have been used to meet different technological or social needs.⁽⁹⁾ Advances in mobile services have also provided the means to expand community knowledge about the Internet and wireless technology.⁽¹⁰⁾ Overall, the use of ICT has grown exponentially across the continent in the past decade. This graph demonstrates the growth (percentage of communications growth in Africa ⁽¹¹⁾)
 
Mobile phone subscriptions particularly have increased significantly from 1998 to 2008. In 2011, there was further growth in mobile phone subscribers. In Kenya for example, of a total population of 41.6 million,⁽¹²⁾ there are now 25 million mobile phone users.⁽¹³⁾ Even though the story in rural areas is changing, the majority of these users are still in urban areas with only about 30 percent of rural Kenyan families presently owning a mobile phone.⁽¹⁴⁾ However, numbers like these and others across Africa are increasing continuously as ICT is rapidly expanding and is considered vital to economic growth.⁽¹⁵⁾ A growing body of evidence shows that old ways of learning across the continent are not getting the desired results, so it has been necessary to introduce new ways of approaching education provision. Businesses, schools and communities are now increasingly focusing on ensuring that people are becoming more literate in ICT.⁽¹⁶⁾
 
E-learning and education opportunities in Africa
 
This new focus is changing education all over Africa and it is adapting and changing with the growing use of e-learning and technology. New kinds of content are in development regularly and are being introduced to children and adults. For example, digital textbooks are being introduced, replacing conventional two dimensional publications and books.⁽¹⁷⁾ Due to the generally unreliable nature of electricity provision from national grids across many parts of Africa, new sources of power, such as wind and solar power are also required and training in these technologies is needed.⁽¹⁸⁾ Great strides are being made in this regard all over urban and rural Africa as ICT expansion and provision continues. Classrooms are being powered by solar energy and battery sources that are more easily rechargeable.⁽¹⁹⁾ Very slim, easily manageable computers are available for use and only require a low 3 to 15 watts of power for operation.⁽²⁰⁾ The growing availability of ICT made possible by these innovations has increased access for millions of students in Africa. In South Africa for example, about 1.5 million students can now access computer classrooms through upgraded computer technology.⁽²¹⁾
 
Education through e-learning is becoming vital in opening new doors, not only for children but also for adults. It is slowly allowing women to strengthen their positions in society through increased access to information and opportunities and is providing independence and ICT awareness.⁽²²⁾ It is noted that in order to continue this growth the expansion of education through e-learning must occur and that, in the African context, this is only possible through the increased use of ICT and continued training through large scale-up programmes.⁽²³⁾ In this way education in both urban and rural areas will be improved by access to information through technology, learning and the Internet.⁽²⁴⁾
 
There are many more examples of ways that African countries are expanding education using e-learning solutions. A report from Accenture shares several ways in which technology is enhancing education and access to it through e-learning by:

• Providing teachers with digital materials to supplement traditional lectures (via laptops and projectors);
• Delivering master teacher sessions by video to wide audiences, computer-based games and simulations;
• Replacing books with electronic devices supporting more engaging and comprehensive content;
• Enabling collaboration across communities via connected classrooms;
• Supplementing traditional curricula with additional learning materials covering locally-relevant topics like health and agriculture;
• Delivering teacher training in local schools during evenings and weekends;
• Delivering vocational training and adult education via school infrastructure during non-school hours;
• Offering individual, self-paced training tailored to individual needs and goals; and
• Extending education beyond the classroom via mobile devices, personal computers or Internet kiosks.⁽²⁵⁾

Africa's booming mobile markets edge lies in its role as an innovative hub for new products in the banking, health, education and commerce sectors.

According to a recent report from PwC's quarterly journal Communications Review, titled ‘Telecoms in Africa: Innovating and Inspiring’, in addition to being one of the world's most dynamic telecom markets, the continent is also among the most innovative, a global testing laboratory and a leader in ­digital and mobile-enabled applications in areas like payments, commerce, health and education.

According to the PwC report, R689 billion has been invested in the telecoms sector in Africa in 2008 and this figure is expected to be as high as US$145.8 billion (R1.28-trillion) by 2015, an 85 percent increase.

To read the article titled, “Africa at cutting edge of mobile innovation,” click here.

Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness month in October, Lifeline has expanded its counselling services to include an online option.

The new mobile chat counselling service, which is being sponsored by Mxit, is expected to target and reach people between the ages of 12 to 29 - an age group which is very familiar with Mxit.

“This is exciting news for our nonprofit counselling organisation as it opens up a whole new world for our callers - especially those who cannot afford a telephone call,” explains Janet King, acting director, LifeLine Johannesburg.

To read the article titled, “LifeLine counselling services go online,” click here.

HP has partnered with NGOs - Positive Innovation for the Next Generation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative - to digitise malaria surveillance in Botswana in 2011.

By distributing smartphones to healthcare workers, the company built a real-time system to monitor outbreaks.

During the year-long pilot, cases reported to the country’s Ministry of Health in time to stop an outbreak soared from 20 percent of total diagnoses to 93 percent, and response time was minimised.

To read the article titled, “How HP harnesses technology and partners with NGOs to beat disease,” click here.