The Global Campus of Human Rights and the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you, on the occasion of the Day of the African Child, to a webinar on Edtech regulatory frameworks and the right to education in Africa.
Date: 19 June 2024
Time: 16:00 PM -17:00 (SAST)
Venue: Zoom
Language: English
Background
From revolutionising teaching and learning through technology to sparking debates on equality and access to education, the role of education technology (EdTech) in Africa's educational sector is both promising and contentious. As governments struggle to provide digital education solutions, private companies step in with costly technology-based offerings, which can hinder equitable access. On the flip side, public-private partnerships tend to reinforce the prevalence of private schooling, thus exacerbating inequality and neglecting vulnerable children. Consequently, they run the risk of deepening societal disparities instead of achieving widespread quality education.
The push for profitability in education fuels competition among providers, forcing them to balance quality education with affordability, and potentially compromising education and human rights standards. The profit motives of EdTech companies often overshadow their educational impact, prioritising financial gain over addressing the needs of marginalised communities. Despite claims, 'low-cost schools' tend to be less inclusive. Additionally, high bandwidth costs significantly hinder the sharing of educational resources, with connectivity expenses for educational institutions reaching up to $900 per Mbps/month in Chad.
As part of the Global Campus Policy Observatory research project, focused on 'the digitalisation of education systems and its impact on human rights, with particular attention to the right to education', and in celebration of the International Day of the African Child, dedicated this year to education, we invite you to join us for an insightful webinar exploring the complexities surrounding the regulation of educational technology, particularly low-cost schooling providers, and their effect on the realisation of the right to education across Africa.
This webinar will delve into:
- The evolving landscape of EdTech-driven education and various regulatory frameworks
- Insights from Liberia's experience with education outsourcing – its challenges and limitations
- Requirements for public-private partnerships to uphold the right to education without hindrance.
Panelists
- Aya Douabou
Africa Programme Officer
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Anderson D. Miamen
National Coordinator
Liberia’s Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education - Dr Elvis Fokala
Manager: Children’s Rights Unit
Centre for Human Rights
Moderator
- Reda Benkhadra
Policy Analyst, Global Campus of Human Rights
For more information, please contact:
Dr Elvis Fokala
elvis.fokala@up.ac.za
Reda Benkhadra
reda.benkhadra@tuks.co.za
