How to Improve Access to Educational Technology in Rural Areas

Sonia Kouam^*

Civil Administrator, Supreme State Audit, Republic of Cameroon

Received: 10 March, 2025; Accepted: 20 March, 2025; Published: 31 March, 2025

Citation: Sonia, Kouam. “How to Improve Access to Educational Technology in Rural Areas.” J Glob Entrep Manage (2025): 122. DOI: 10.59462/JGEM.3.1.122

Copyright: © 2025 Sonia Kouam. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Introduction

The rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has considerably changed education worldwide. Cameroon is no exception, with the growing use of technological tools in the education sector. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways in which educational technologies have transformed learning in Cameroon, and how reform in this sector is improving access to technology-based education. It is important to note that less than 75% of Cameroonians [1] own a smartphone and that internet access is limited to 37.8% of people [2], illustrating the need to facilitate access to educational technologies. This policy brief is divided into five sections, illustrating the benefits and challenges of deploying technologies in Cameroon, with relevant recommendations to facilitate the integration of ICT into educational establishment.

Introducing ICT in teaching

In recent years, the Cameroonian government has introduced several initiatives aimed at integrating ICT into the education sector. These include training programs for teachers to enable them to acquire the technical skills needed to effectively integrate ICT into their teaching. In addition, many of the country’s schools and universities have been equipped with computers and Internet access, offering students the opportunity to access a wide variety of online educational resources [3].

Setting up digital learning platforms

Digital learning platforms play an essential role in the technological revolution in education in Cameroon [4, 5]. They enable students to easily access online courses, upload and share documents or participate in online discussions [6]. These platforms also facilitate communication between teachers and students through instant messaging or videoconferencing tools. They therefore need to be promoted in the educational context.

The benefits of educational technologies for learning in Cameroon

• Improved access to education: Thanks to educational technologies, students have easier and faster access to information and teaching resources. Online courses offer greater flexibility to students [7], enabling them to follow distance learning courses while managing their own schedules.
• Equal opportunities: With online resources, all students, whatever their social status or geographical location, can have access to the same learning opportunities.
• Personalized learning: Digital tools make it possible to tailor teaching to the specific needs of each student, making learning more effective and better adapted to learners’ individual abilities.
• Developing digital skills: Using ICT for learning enables students to acquire and perfect their digital skills, which are essential in today’s professional world.
• Stimulating student engagement: Interactive multimedia supports make learning more interesting and stimulating.
• Facilitating collaboration: ICT promotes cooperation between students and teachers through simplified communication and easier document sharing.

The challenges of deploying educational technologies in Cameroon

Despite many advantages, integration still faces a number of obstacles:

• Lack of adequate infrastructure: Many Cameroonian schools lack reliable access to electricity and the Internet [8, 9].
• Unequal access to technologies: Some students cannot afford devices [10].
• Teacher training: Teachers need systematic training to master ICT [11].
• Lack of adapted resources: Most digital content is in French or English, creating barriers for rural students [12].

Recommendations: ways of improving the integration of educational technologies in Cameroon

• Improve infrastructure and Internet access: Stable electricity, improved coverage, and affordable devices [13].
• Strengthen teacher training: Digital skills in initial and in-service training.
• Develop adapted and localized content: Use local languages and cultural contexts.
• Strengthen investment and governance for lifelong learning: Prioritize funding and affordable access [14].
• Advance digital education via international cooperation: Learn from global practices and align standards.
• Develop digital skills models: Establish assessment frameworks and integrate digital literacy across education.

Conclusion

Educational technologies are having a significant impact on learning in Cameroon. However, addressing the challenges of infrastructure, accessibility, teacher training, and localized resources is essential to maximize their impact and pave the way for inclusive education for all Cameroonian learners.

References

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