“The opposite of ‘open’ isn’t closed. The opposite of open is broken.” This quote, by the open-access advocate John Wilbanks, isn’t just applicable to the realm of data – it’s relevant to education, too.
Recent news
Live and learn: classrooms explore Ethiopia’s utopia
His wife left him, his family disowned him and he was labelled mentally ill all for trying to create a new way of life, but Ethiopian farmer Zumra Nuru has since proven that his ideas for equality and justice were the key to reducing poverty and increasing development. Starting from scratch in 1972, Nuru has created a democratic, sustainable community, where women and men […]
Re-inventing higher education: online, tuition-free and accredited
After reaching its long-term goal of gaining accreditation in 2014, the University of the People (UoPeople), the world’s first tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university, is setting its sights on Africa.
Kenya’s local solution to a global education problem
With a bit of “luck, good timing and hard work,” Kenyan entrepreneur Tonee Ndungu has been attracting attention both locally and abroad for his innovative solution that makes educational content affordable and accessible to middle and low income families.
‘Inspirational’ Malawian teacher shortlisted for Global Teacher Prize
Andrews Nchessie is a teacher at both Kasungu Demonstration School, and Kasungu Teacher Training College in Malawi. Beyond that, he is a pioneer within the Malawian educational system, developing new and improved ways for young Malawian children to learn, and also for Malawian teachers to improve how they teach their young students.
What’s wrong with Facebook-sponsored Internet access?
Is limited access to the Internet better than no access at all? This is a question posed by John Naughton, author and professor of the public understanding of technology at the Open University, in a recent Guardian diatribe against a Facebook app that offers free connectivity to developing nations. Naughton’s answer is ‘no’.
The road ahead in the quest for access
Looking back upon 2014, one of the more striking tech stories has been the rate at which ICT continues to penetrate, and emerge from within, Africa.
Post-2015 agenda: ICTs in education will be ‘very critical’
Plans are currently being laid for a new era of development, as the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) edge closer to their 2015 expiry date. What will replace them will be a more inclusive framework that leverages new technology and innovation to help reach targets.
Creating opportunities for two million Ethiopian farmers
When Dr Mitslal Kifleyesus-Matschie returned to her country Ethiopia in 2007, she went with the aim to contribute to poverty eradication in rural areas by creating a company that allowed farmers to enter the 21st century market.
Investments surge for African startups in 2014
A recent report made by VC4Africa, the leading peer-to-peer network that enables African entrepreneurs and investors to find each other online, has revealed that 2014 saw a significant growth in startup ventures in Africa.
