Distance Learning Media in the DRC: Challenges and Opportunities

• In Event: Perspectives on Technologies in Hard-to-Reach Areas: An Opportunity for Inclusive Education for Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Proposal

Dedicated to improving the well-being of Congolese citizens through key social initiatives, particularly in education, an e-learning platform was launched to offer free courses in mathematics, science, and computer science for students from 1st grade to 12th grade. The platform supports underprivileged communities by allowing them to access the platform without purchasing data. With over 14,000 videos of courses and interactive exercises, the platform is a distance learning tool, accessible to everyone, everywhere in the DRC. To date, the platform has 118,462 users. Yet, several challenges must still be addressed to ensure effective use and adoption of these inclusive e-learning platforms. Low smartphone penetration in remote areas and limited digital literacy among both teachers and students remain key obstacles.
To address these challenges, the program will continue to be established in universities to provide short one-day training courses on digital basics. Additionally, a large awareness campaign on e-learning will be conducted across various universities, aimed at promoting the benefits of digital education and encouraging both students and teachers to embrace these new tools.

Authors

• Jessica Mputu, Vodacom DRC

• Grace-Attalie Masamba, Kinshasa Digital SAS