Learning Hub Pilot--Providing Digital skills/ Resources to Rural Areas of Egypt to mitigate Learning Losses for Marginalized Children

• In Event: Preventing learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting digital learning opportunities and career guidance for marginalized girls/youth in Egypt

Proposal

In May 2020, a rapid assessment conducted as part of COVID-19 mitigation planning found that at-home learning, including the use of digital tools/content, is hampered by a lack of appropriate devices, content, and Internet connectivity, particularly in more rural and poorer areas. Furthermore, the lack of digital literacy skills and comfort using technology for teaching and learning found among some teachers, parents/caregivers, and students, limited their ability and willingness to use technology effectively. Given the prolonged nature of the pandemic, there was an urgent need to improve access to and extend learning opportunities closer to the students as well as to remove barriers impeding the full adoption of online learning.
To ensure continuity of students' learning and support for home-based education among in-school students, a partnership among the MOETE, a UN agency, and an INGO resulted in the piloting of a learning hub in Alexandria in March 2021. After the success of the initiative, two additional hubs were opened in Cairo. The learning hubs provide both in-person and online learning activities for children. Content for these activities is available online or can be downloaded for offline use. Online resources include the UNICEF Learning Passport, the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. The hub is equipped to: 1) provide technology facilities and Internet access to children from the poorest backgrounds to bridge the digital divide; 2) disseminate online and offline learning materials; 3) improve access to opportunities to participate in educational and social events through the hub. This helps to break children’s social isolation and improve educational outcomes through play-based learning. Through the learning hubs male and female children and youth are being provided with devices, high-speed Internet, printed, and audiovisual educational materials. Additionally, facilitators at the learning hubs provide parents/caregivers with special support on how to promote and strengthen children’s learning. Because safe spaces are girls-only spaces, men and older boys will only be engaged in gender-segregated activities at certain hours of the day. The learning hubs maintain ties with closed schools in the catchment area which have moved to online and remote learning during the COVID-19 lockdowns and ensure that activities are streamlined and harmonized with schools objectives. The project has been able to enhance remote learning through a three-pronged approach that targets children, their parents, and teachers. So far the learning hub in Alexandria has been serving over 400 learners with over 5,000 visits to the hub to date. Through the learning hub, educational podcasts with over five thousands (5000) plays for learners of diverse ages have been produced and delivered.
The presenters will discuss key lessons learnt from the pilot and the potential for scalability and sustainability post-COVID-19.

Authors

• Ali Ahmed AbdelMohsen, CARE USA

• Areeg Hegazi, Care Egypt Foundation