Dr Waleed Al Ali is the Secretary General of The Digital School, a flagship initiative under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. With a mission to expand access to inclusive, high-quality digital education, The Digital School has already reached over half a million learners worldwide. Ahead of eLearning Africa 2025, where The Digital School joins as a Diamond Partner, we spoke with Dr Al Ali about innovation, partnerships, and the future of education across the continent.
The Digital School has grown into a flagship initiative under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. How would you define its core mission today?
Our core mission is not simply about how many students benefit from our programmes; it is about driving the frontiers of digital education and extending educational opportunities to marginalised communities worldwide. We believe in the power of digital innovation to make education more affordable and accessible. Over the past four to five years, we have been developing a model of digital and hybrid education that is accredited, scalable, and adaptable across different geographies.
The Digital School has already reached over 500,000 learners – a remarkable achievement. Could you share an example that highlights its real-world impact in an African country?
Impact is critical, and it must go deeper than numbers. A strong example is our work in Mauritania, where we have been collaborating with the Ministry of Education for nearly three years. Initially, there was no digital content aligned with the national curriculum, and more than 50% of students lacked access to textbooks.
Through our engagement:
– The entire curriculum has been digitised and made accessible to students nationwide.
– Over 2,000 educators have been trained in digital teaching methodologies.
– Digital education has been integrated into teacher qualification processes, with every new teacher now required to complete a digital training programme.
– Classrooms have been renovated and equipped with digital technologies.
– A national roadmap for digital education was developed with key players, endorsed by the government, and designed to ensure long-term sustainability.
This collaboration has demonstrated how digital education can systematically transform an entire education ecosystem.
What other kinds of impact have you seen at the educator level?
At the educator level, we have seen remarkable results. Through our Digital Educator Global Academy ( DEGA), we have trained more than 6,000 teachers across Africa. Many of these teachers have not only adopted digital teaching practices but have also been formally recognised by their ministries of education for their achievements. It shows that when you invest in teachers, the impact spreads exponentially throughout the education system.
The Digital School is known for using AI, offline tech, and outcome-based financing. What innovations are you most excited about?
One of the initiatives we are most excited about is the ‘Donate Your Own Device’ (DYOD) programme. In the UAE, we partnered with organisations, companies, and individuals to collect their used electronic devices. Through this initiative, we have refurbished between 8,000 and 10,000 devices for redistribution to students who otherwise would not have access to technology.
This programme addresses both environmental sustainability and the urgent need for accessible digital tools in underserved communities.
The UAE recently shared an Engagement Strategy focused on partnerships with African institutions, including SADC. What does successful collaboration with African governments look like to you?
Africa is the youngest continent in the world, and with this comes tremendous potential – but also pressing challenges. Initially, some governments view digital education as a luxury compared to more immediate issues such as energy access, food security, and healthcare. However, when we demonstrate that digital education can make learning more affordable, scalable, and faster to deploy, perceptions change.
Successful collaboration begins when governments see the value and actively seek partnerships. Once that foundation is in place, we work together to train educators, digitise curricula, and engage telecom operators and private sector players to ensure sustainable digital transformation across the education sector.
What are your hopes and aspirations for The Digital School’s engagement in Tanzania this year?
Tanzania will be the first implementation site for our new Skilling Academies initiative, launched earlier this year at the World Government Summit. The goal is to train five million learners across five years, through eight specialised academies focused on entry-level employment in high-growth sectors.
We start with employer needs, gathering job commitments first, and then design tailored programmes that lead directly to employment. In Tanzania, we hope to build strong partnerships with policymakers and industry players, showcasing how education can directly fuel economic development and workforce readiness.
As you prepare to attend eLearning Africa 2025, what message would you like to share with the community?
eLearning Africa has been instrumental in advocating for digital learning across the continent over the last 20 years. Now, more than ever, we have the tools to realise this potential.
Africa is on the verge of a great transformation. Education is the key pillar that will make that transformation possible. Now is the time to join forces – to accelerate education through digital solutions, policies , and collective partnerships.
Interviewed by: Warren Janisch
