Ethiopia, a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa, faces significant challenges in leveraging ICT for educational development due to its low-income status, agrarian economy, and limited urbanization. Despite having policies to integrate ICT in education, the country struggles with implementation, especially in rural areas with restricted access to electricity and the internet. Ethiopia ranks low on the the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) digital readiness indicator, with few households having internet access or computers.
The educational system, guided by the Education Sector Development Plan, aims to enhance access and quality. Ethiopia demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting multi-modal strategies, such as digital, TV, and radio platforms, to continue education. This indicates potential for greater ICT use in learning if resources and infrastructure improve. However, challenges persist due to insufficient digital infrastructure and a lack of trained educators in ICT.
The report includes a comprehensive mapping of ICT4E partner interventions, highlighting areas for improvement.
Recommendations emphasize investments in infrastructure, enhancing policy implementation, workforce training, curriculum development, and connectivity. Coordinated efforts are crucial to improve digital access and literacy, aiming for Ethiopia's vision of becoming a knowledge society and improving education quality and equity.