While reading up on the upcoming eLearning Africa conference, we came across some interesting articles relating to ICT and education in Africa. All eight perspectives come from the eLA News Portal.

Powering classroom learning with Dell cloud client computing

• A promotion for Dell’s service lists case studies of schools in Lesotho and Nigeria. One implemented a low-maintenance IT solution to provide students Internet access. The other utilized a solar-powered classroom in a box (shipping container with technology needed for ten students and a teacher).

More than meets the eye: In conversation with Mark Kaigwa

• The Kenyan digital strategist explains the M-pesa revolution, Nairobi’s tech hubs, and how individuals communities are transforming the country. He feels shared experiences set the tone for potential partnerships, especially those relating to e-government.

Education in refugee camps

• There are hundreds of schools in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. But, language barriers, illiteracy, and a lack of teachers has impeded traditional education. Fortunately, ICT services are now available in at least 39 classrooms. The effort owes its success to tight partnerships with the local communities served.

Building lasting bridges: Good and bad eGovernment strategies in Africa

• Mentioned here are general mobile concepts employed by governments to communication with citizens. One caveat: governments should only implement technology that serves a direct purpose.

Reaching Africa’s remotest

• Local innovations are arguably the most exciting developments in African infrastructure. Examples include email couriers in remote villages and mobile solar-powered Internet cafes.

Africa’s smartphone revolution

• Apps are becoming used more often for African education despite low smartphone penetration. Better yet, m-learning can be successful even via SMS. The could even come a point where students no longer need to attend common classrooms.

Examining eHealth in Africa

• E-health is already successful on a local level. For one, many medical conditions are easy to prevent or treat given simple text advice/messages. But, how well can e-health scale? Challenges include complex information systems, privacy concerns, and hefty costs.

No dumping allowed

• Equipping schools with computers does nothing unless training is provided simultaneously. Teachers need training as much as the students do. Unfortunately, many African governments still do not understand this dilemma.