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How Satellite Technology Supported Learning in Kenya despite COVID-19

Context and Problem

Globally, 1.5 billion children were affected by school closures due to COVID-19. To make matters worse, low- and middle-income countries lost nearly four months of education compared to approximately six weeks in high-income countries. This disparity is unfortunate.

When schools were moving towards remote learning, many schools in Sub-Saharan Africa could not do so due to the lack of access to 3G Mobile Data. However, iMlango and its partners played a crucial role in enabling these schools to adapt to the new normal, for which they deserve our appreciation.

Solution

iMlango, an education technology program based in Kenya, aimed to reduce the impact of educational institute closures. The program commenced after establishing a public-private partnership in 2014 among six stakeholders. Through this partnership, iMlango was able to provide IT equipment, satellite broadband, e-learning platforms, teacher learning, educational content, and a smart attendance system.

The program that was instituted ran through selected primary schools in four counties. The metrics used to select the schools were poverty rates, attendance statistics, electricity access, and girls' marginalization. A significant impact was observed.

Impact

According to iMlango’s 2017 report, the program profoundly impacted marginalized girls. Their academic performance in numeracy and literature improved significantly, and they showed a newfound enthusiasm for furthering their education at various levels.

Through iMlango’s mobile app during COVID, they supported eighteen thousand students, of which seventy thousand were girls, in a total of 240 schools.

Analysis

With areas that lack critical infrastructure, utilizing satellites can be an excellent option for providing internet to teachers and students. The iMlango program showcased that this is possible and is a model that can be replicated across the world. By creating partnerships and working together, education can be improved and furthered. Additionally, the use of online learning aided in improving education quality, which made students value education more and be willing to engage in it.