MEA seeks to meet demand for integration of ICT in education

Universities, schools and corporations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are bracing for a surge in demand for technology that facilitates education. In the Middle East, integration of Information and Communication Technology ICT in education is rising, especially as more people advance to higher levels of education, according to UNESCO. In Africa, many organizations are pioneering new ways of using ICT to meet the United Nations’ education-related Millennium Development Goals, according to the World Bank, the Saudi Gazette reported on Monday. Online education is a major driver of take-up of ICT technology in the region. In the Middle East, millions of people increasingly have Internet access, demonstrating the potential for expanding online educational resources, according to the Middle East e-Learning Association (MEeA). In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 300,000 teacher-learners in 10 countries have used multilingual open educational resources, offered by the TESSA research and development initiative, which could be adapted to the Middle East, MEeA added.