• Zambia trains 200 teachers in hybrid learning under digital strategy

• 200 schools receive routers, 80 GB data to support e-learning

• Part of Africa-wide push to boost teachers’ digital skills

Zambia’s Ministry of Education, under its digital transformation strategy, completed a training program for 200 teachers on hybrid learning methods on Friday, October 3.

The initiative, run in partnership with UNICEF and Airtel Zambia, aims to modernize teaching practices and promote the use of digital technology in classrooms.

Brendah Musanya, Deputy Director for Education Broadcast Services, described the program as a response to the country’s learning crisis and digital skills gap. She emphasized that teachers’ proficiency with digital tools has become a key factor in improving student outcomes and preparing learners for the future job market.

Beyond basic instruction, the program seeks to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural schools. Teachers were trained to use teaching methods that combine digital content with traditional lessons, making learning more interactive and responsive to student needs. As part of the initiative, 200 schools received routers with 80 GB of monthly data, providing access to educational platforms, online resources, and collaborative tools.

Digital Skills Push Across Africa

Zambia is not alone in this effort. Several African countries have launched similar programs to strengthen teachers’ digital skills.

In Senegal, the government is training 105,000 teachers in digital pedagogy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of its 2025-2029 Digital Strategy for Education.

In Gabon, the Ministry of National Education, working with UNICEF and Airtel Gabon, began a program this month to train 200 primary school teachers in digital literacy, online safety, and the use of digital tools in teaching.

These efforts are crucial given the widespread lack of digital training. According to the 2022 Triennial Summary Report of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), fewer than two-thirds of primary school teachers and only half of secondary school teachers in 40 partner countries have the digital skills required for modern instruction.

Programs like Zambia’s reflect a growing continental trend: improving teachers’ digital skills is becoming a strategic priority for modernizing education and ensuring equitable access to knowledge in the digital age.

Samira Njoya