As part of a collaborative effort between the British Council and Edinburgh University, a group of successful candidates from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa gathered in Accra for a transformative three-day workshop. This initiative, designed to train education leaders, identified 16 Ministry of Education officials from these countries and provided them the opportunity to pursue a fully online MSc in Digital Education programme.
Funded by the British Council, the project aims to equip these officials with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the pressing issues at the intersection of technology and education in Sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop brought together participants holding a variety of roles within their respective Ministries of Education, including senior officials, STEM teachers, and specialists in areas such as Education Management Information Systems and special needs education.
The workshop centred around several key themes. One major focus was on understanding the challenges and opportunities of digital education in different countries. Through discussions and presentations, participants shared their unique perspectives and learned from each other’s experiences, highlighting common themes and diverse approaches to tackling these issues.
Another crucial theme was the exploration of theoretical frameworks and research methods relevant to digital education. Participants delved into post-humanism, social reproduction, capability approaches, policy analysis, and futures methods, equipping them with a comprehensive tool-kit to address complex educational challenges.
Practical applications were also a significant part of the discussions. Topics included research ethics, dissertation guidance, and global trends in digital education. Insights from global experts, such as Sheila Jagannathan from the World Bank, provided a broader context and underscored the importance of ethical considerations and practical implementation in digital education initiatives.
The workshop concluded with a cultural experience, as participants donned traditional attire from the Tamale region and visited the Black Star Gate, symbolising a shared commitment to educational transformation.
Overall, the workshop provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and fostered collaboration among education leaders from different countries.
More importantly, it set the stage for future projects and initiatives aimed at advancing digital education in Sub-Saharan Africa. The participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of how to leverage digital tools to enhance education in their respective regions.
