Online Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: A Wake-up Call on the Educational Sector

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which emanated from Wuhan, China, and its successive spread across the globe had a tremendous impact on virtually all spheres of human endeavors such as economy, health, livelihood, and education amongst others. The widespread restrictions currently placed on movement and mass gatherings have made educational and academic activities to be grounded globally. In recent years, the concept of learning has gradually transformed from traditional classroom methods to online learning where students acquire knowledge through invisible classrooms. Most learning institutions in Africa may encounter difficulties in turning to this new form of learning due to the lack of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities of international standards. Although many students today possess internet-enabled devices, they cannot access the internet due to unaffordable data subscriptions, which have made most learners use their devices for noneducational purposes. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the African continent, the possibility to re-open the schools remains bleak. Thus, governments, authorities, and regulatory bodies in individual countries must improve their existing ICT infrastructures for a better online learning experience. This paper serves as a wake-up call for Africa and its educational sector to transit to online learning.