The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown Africa needs to accelerate investment in renewable energy and ICT infrastructure. This is according to Dr Huber Gijzen, regional director for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Southern Africa, highlighting the importance of inclusive distance learning in times of crisis.
 
UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. Speaking on the occasion of Huawei’s partnership with 23 South African TVET colleges, Gijzen said over one billion students have been affected by school and university closures due to the COVID-19 crisis.
 
The outbreak of the virushas seen millions of people rely on ICT to work, study, care for others and keep in touch with loved ones. Even though the coronavirus pandemic has affected the education sector at large, for the African continent, it has exposed weaknesses such as low energy and ICT infrastructure, according to Gijzen. “In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 50% of schools are not even connected to an energy source or to the grid. This tells us that Africa needs to accelerate investment in renewable energy and ICT infrastructure.”

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