Guinean authorities plan to provide Internet access to 2,200 public schools, especially those in rural areas. The announcement came after a meeting on January 6, involving representatives from UNICEF Guinea, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and the Ministry of the Digital Economy, with the Ministry of National Education and Literacy confirming the decision on January 8.
The program is a component of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) and UNICEF’s 2019 Giga project.
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Goals of the initiative
The main goal is to offer digital access to children, particularly those in underserved regions, and to align with Guinea’s broader efforts to improve connectivity in educational institutions.
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Guinea Telecom, a state-owned company, declared in July 2023 that it would offer free Internet to Guinean students, further advancing the country’s educational digital agenda.
Bridging the educational gap between urban and rural areas
By connecting 2,200 public schools in rural areas, this project will not only promote digital inclusion but also help reduce the educational gap between urban and rural locations.
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Additionally, by improving access to the Internet and promoting entrepreneurship, the initiative will have a positive impact on local communities.
According to DataReportal, Guinea had 4.87 million Internet users in early 2024, representing a 33.9 percent penetration rate.
This initiative supports the need for new teaching methods and resources to transform education across Africa, with the Internet offering significant opportunities to overcome learning gaps identified by UNESCO.