The first question was ‘how has education been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?’ This question alone could have opened up a day-long discussion which still wouldn’t have been able to cover all the relevant topics and directions that question opens up. Then the conversation, moderated by Arnold Kwizera, of CNBC Africa, turned to how we can encourage more investment into the education sector. Claire Baker, Head of the Africa Digital Media Foundation, shared ideas and insights, alongside Karen Sherman, President of the Akilah Institute in Rwanda .
As it seems clear that education will need to heavily rely on digital tools for the foreseeable future, and traditional models of education are no longer viable, this question is more relevant now than ever. Investment is needed urgently in education models that allow children and young people to continue their learning, wherever they are whatever their financial means. The digital divide has never been greater, and if we don’t tackle this as a matter of urgency, a whole generation of young people are likely to be at a major disadvantage for the rest of their lives.
One of the key points we highlighted in this CNBC discussion is the fact that there is no ‘new normal’, because circumstances continue to evolve every day, every hour, and we must remain agile and flexible. We must adapt to the circumstances as they are, and constantly reassess, which is what we do with our skills training at ADMI, and also with the conception of new products and services that can be future-proof and help young African creatives be more resilient to future shocks.
You can catch the full interview on CNBC Africa and add your voice to the discussion on our social media, @admfafrica on Facebook and @ADMF_foundation on Twitter .