Category: Technology

  • Why I’m advancing solar energy research – Nigerian scientist, Michael Uzu

    Why I’m advancing solar energy research – Nigerian scientist, Michael Uzu

    ABUJA – Nigerian-born scientist Michael Uzu has made significant strides in renewable energy and materials engineering through his work on titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a crucial material utilised in solar energy, batteries, and electronics.

    Uzu’s research aims to enhance the way TiO₂ absorbs light and separates charges, potentially leading to more efficient energy solutions.

    In a terse statement issued to journalists in Abuja, he highlighted the importance of this research.

    He stated, “Understanding these photophysical processes at a fundamental level enables us to design and optimise material performance for batteries, sustainable energy, and advanced electronics.

    “My goal is to enhance visibility in research and development by ensuring that cutting-edge research translates into real-world impact. Science isn’t just about discovery—it’s about innovation that drives change and empowers communities.”

    In a study published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry, Uzu, who is pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Delaware, investigated how modifications to TiO₂ surfaces can enhance its performance in energy applications.

  • MultiChoice Faces Legal Storm as FCCPC Escalates Price Hike Dispute

    MultiChoice Faces Legal Storm as FCCPC Escalates Price Hike Dispute

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has escalated its confrontation with MultiChoice Nigeria, initiating formal legal proceedings against the pay-TV giant and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe. This move comes in response to MultiChoice’s defiance of regulatory orders, specifically its implementation of a controversial price increase despite an ongoing FCCPC inquiry.

    The FCCPC, charged with safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring fair market practices, alleges that MultiChoice has deliberately flouted regulatory directives and obstructed its investigation. In a statement released on the Commission’s X account, Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, confirmed the legal action, stating, “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, obstructing an ongoing inquiry and engaging in conduct deemed violations of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.”

    The heart of the dispute lies in MultiChoice’s announcement of a planned price adjustment across its DStv and GOtv packages, scheduled for March 1, 2025. This adjustment would see significant increases, with the DStv Compact package rising by 25% and the Premium plan by 20%, among other hikes. Such increases, particularly in a market where pay-TV services are considered essential by many, have naturally sparked widespread concern.

    In response to the planned increases, the FCCPC summoned MultiChoice, demanding explanations and issuing a directive to halt the implementation. The Commission specifically voiced concerns about the frequency of price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV sector. Despite this directive, MultiChoice proceeded with the price increase on March 1, 2025, triggering the FCCPC’s legal action.

    The charges filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, include obstruction of an inquiry, impeding an ongoing investigation, and providing misleading information, all in violation of the FCCPA 2018. The FCCPC argues that MultiChoice’s actions represent a deliberate attempt to undermine regulatory authority and deny Nigerian consumers their rightful protection under the law.

    The implications of this legal battle extend beyond MultiChoice. The pay-TV market in Nigeria is significant, and the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how regulatory bodies address market dominance and consumer protection in the digital age. As reported by OkayNG, “MultiChoice had informed its customers about a planned price increase across its DStv and GOtv packages, set to take effect on March 1, 2025.” This information highlights the direct impact on everyday Nigerians.

    Read Also: House of Reps Directs MultiChoice to Suspend Subscription Price Increase Amid Economic Hardship

    Furthermore, the FCCPC has indicated that it is considering additional enforcement measures, including potential sanctions and regulatory interventions, to ensure compliance. This signals a strong commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring fair market practices.

    The FCCPC’s stance reflects a broader trend of regulatory bodies taking a more assertive role in protecting consumers. In a country where access to information and entertainment is increasingly reliant on digital platforms, ensuring fair pricing and transparent practices is paramount. The upcoming legal proceedings will be closely watched by consumers, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies alike, as they could reshape the landscape of the Nigerian pay-TV market.

    I understand the frustration this evokes. Price increases, especially in a challenging economic climate, directly impact household budgets. “Maintaining the current pricing was essential to prevent any potential consumer harm during this period,” the FCCPC had emphasized, a sentiment I believe resonates with many Nigerians.

  • Alibaba launches new DeepSeek competitor QwQ-32B

    Alibaba launches new DeepSeek competitor QwQ-32B

    Alibaba shares surged more than seven percent in Hong Kong trade on Thursday after the Chinese tech giant launched an artificial intelligence model it says can compete with DeepSeek, this year’s surprise tech star.

    Investors have been riding high on China’s AI capabilities since January, when DeepSeek unveiled a state-of-the-art chatbot seemingly at a fraction of the cost assumed necessary by Western industry leaders.

    Alibaba says its newest AI model announced on Thursday morning, called QwQ-32B, has a “comparable performance” to DeepSeek while also requiring far less data to run.

    Shares in the e-commerce powerhouse rose more than seven percent before a midday pause in trading at Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange.

    China’s vast tech industry has enjoyed several weeks of revamped market confidence.

    Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma was seen meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at a symposium for the country’s leading business figures last month, ending years out of the spotlight.

    The billionaire entrepreneur had criticised government regulations in late 2020, shortly before Beijing scuttled Alibaba’s imminent blockbuster IPO.

    A broader regulatory crackdown that followed wiped more than a trillion dollars off the value of China’s major tech firms.

    But Ma’s inclusion in last month’s meeting hinted at his potential public rehabilitation following his tangle with regulators.

    DeepSeek’s arrival on the scene this year has pleased authorities, who have intensified efforts to revitalise lacklustre activity in the world’s second-largest economy in recent months.

    Alibaba’s QwQ-32B joins another recent entrant, Tencent’s Yuanbao, in an enhanced domestic rivalry with DeepSeek.

    In a potential boost for the firm, Beijing promised on Wednesday to enhance support for consumption, which has been sluggish in China since the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Hangzhou-based Alibaba — operator of some of China’s top online shopping platforms — said last month it planned to spend more than $50 billion on AI and cloud computing over the next three years.

  • NAICOM directive to worsen shortage of actuarial scientists — Apere

    NAICOM directive to worsen shortage of actuarial scientists — Apere

    Dr. Pius Apere, an Actuarial Scientist and Chartered Insurer, who is also Chairman/CEO, Achor Actuarial Services Limited, has warned that the directive by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, that all life insurance companies must have, at least, one qualified actuary will exacerbate the shortage of actuaries in the country.

    A recent circular from NAICOM on annuity underwriting effective 1st February 2025, directed life insurers to have at least one qualified actuary responsible for Assets-Liability Matching (ALM) analysis and implementation, using NAS Standards of Actuarial Practice (NSAP) on Annuities as guide for pricing, valuation and ALM reports of annuity portfolios.

    NAICOM defines a qualified actuary as a Fellow of NAS, but an Associate of NAS may take up the role of an in-house Qualified Actuary only for the purpose of ALM analysis.

    Commenting on this development Apere said: “The shortage of actuaries in Nigeria will be exacerbated further, with only nine qualified actuaries registered in NAS out of it’s over 71 memberships, when NAICOM’s circular is implemented for the following reasons: The circular implies that the qualified actuaries from foreign countries (e.g. South Africa, Kenya etc.) who had been working for Nigeria financial sector (e.g. during the recent implementation of IFRS 17) will need to register with NAS before they can practice in Nigeria; it is obvious that the foreign actuaries are working for actuarial consultancy firms abroad and they were only seconded to work for the Nigerian insurance companies on behalf of their foreign firms.

    “These foreign actuaries may not be readily available for the Nigeria market any longer since NAS will only register actuaries and not the consultancy firms; some NAS’ actuaries have already retired or near retirement; NAS’ actuaries are already engaged with companies or actuarial consultants in Nigeria, So, how many of them will accept to leave their current employment to join the insurance companies.”

  • Tariff increase will push available power generation to 7,000MW — Minister

    Tariff increase will push available power generation to 7,000MW — Minister

    Following a record peak electricity generation of 5,801.84 Megawatts achieved last week, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the proposed tariff increase will push available generation capacity to about 7,000MW.

    Adelabu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication, Bolaji Tunji, explained that the regularization of tariffs will play a critical role in unlocking the sector’s full potential and driving further improvements in power generation and distribution.

    He stated: “To sustain these improvements the Government would have to pay down on the tariff shortfalls of N1.94 trillion for 2024 and legacy debts of N2 trillion to the GENCOs. It would be important to continue the tariff reforms to ensure consumers start to pay for the energy consumed.

    “By the time the tariffs are fully regularized, we will be moving closer to 7,000 MW of available generation capacity. This will mark another significant milestone in our journey towards a stable, reliable, and efficient power sector that meets the needs of all Nigerians”.

    The Minister had last week disclosed that the government intends to raise electricity tariff for customers in Bands B, C and D as part of efforts to boost the sector’s liquidity and reduce the government’s subsidy obligation to the industry. He said the planned increase will reduce the tariff gap between Band A customers and customers in other bands.

    According to the statement available power generation has risen to 6,003MW and added that it was the highest in the nation’s history.

    He said this was followed by another landmark within the period, when the country recorded a peak generation evacuation of 5,801.84 MW and a daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh).

    He stated: “We are thrilled to announce these historic milestones in Nigeria’s power sector. The record available generation of 6,003 MW, the peak evacuation of 5,801.84 MW, and the daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75 MWh are testaments to the hard work, dedication, and strategic reforms being implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.”

    He pointed out that “these achievements are not just numbers; they represent a brighter future for Nigeria, where businesses can thrive, households can enjoy uninterrupted power supply, and the economy can grow sustainably. We pray for the sustainability of these landmark records and look forward to further improvements on all parameters in the coming days.”

    Quoting the Minister, Tunji said the recent milestones are the result of concerted efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the sector, to address longstanding challenges and optimize the nation’s power infrastructure.

    “These efforts include the rehabilitation and upgrading of transmission and distribution networks, the implementation of innovative technologies, and the introduction of policy reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability”.

    In celebrating these achievements, the Minister also called for continued support and collaboration from all stakeholders, including state governments, private sector players, and the general public, and emphasized the importance of collective efforts in sustaining the momentum and ensuring that the gains made in the sector are not only maintained but also built upon.

  • UK extends seasonal work visa for 5 years to address labour shortage

    UK extends seasonal work visa for 5 years to address labour shortage

    The UK government has confirmed a five-year extension of its Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme, allowing farmers and food producers to continue hiring foreign workers on short-term contracts.

    Initially set to conclude in 2021, the scheme was previously extended at the request of the National Farmers Union (NFU) until 2024.

    Under the revised framework, seasonal workers can stay in the UK for up to six months, according to Travelobiz.

    In 2025, the UK government will allocate 45,000 visas for seasonal employment.

    Of these, 43,000 visas will be designated for horticulture roles such as fruit and vegetable picking, while 2,000 visas will be reserved for poultry processing and related tasks, available between October 2nd and December 31st.

    Only workers employed by approved scheme operators will be eligible.

    Eligibility Criteria for UK Seasonal Worker Visa

    To qualify for the Seasonal Worker Visa, applicants must meet specific requirements, including:

    Securing a job offer through an approved scheme operator.

    Being at least 18 years old.

    Providing proof of at least £1,270 in savings to support themselves upon arrival.

    Additionally, visa holders are not permitted to bring dependents to the UK.

    Application Process

    The application process remains straightforward. Prospective workers must first secure employment through an approved recruitment agency. Once hired, they will receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a mandatory requirement for the visa application.

    Applicants must then submit their visa application online, pay a fee of £264, and attend a biometrics appointment. Processing times generally take about three weeks.

    Despite the extension, concerns persist regarding the exploitation and rights of seasonal workers. Reports indicate that many workers are tied to specific employers, limiting their ability to leave unsafe or abusive workplaces.

    Kate Roberts, Head of Policy at Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), highlighted these concerns: “Seasonal Worker Visa holders currently have no realistic way to challenge poor working conditions, wage theft, or sexual harassment in the workplace.”

    While the Seasonal Worker Visa presents an opportunity for temporary employment in the UK, workers should remain aware of their rights and responsibilities. The visa is valid for six months, and holders can only work for the scheme operator that sponsors them.

    Applicants are advised to seek employment through reputable scheme operators to ensure fair treatment and adherence to labor regulations.

  • UK introduces mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travelers

    UK introduces mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travelers

    European nationals can apply for a digital travel permit to enter the UK starting from Wednesday, in the latest step taken by Britain to digitise its borders.

    The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme — similar to the ESTA system in the United States — will be mandatory for European visitors from April, following its roll-out for US, Canadian and other visa-exempt nationals in January.

    Starting from 1000 GMT on Wednesday, European nationals can apply for the pre-travel pass for short visits to Britain, which left the European Union in 2020.

    They will need an ETA from April 2, 2025, in the last phase of the UK’s rollout of digital travel checks.

    The scheme was first launched in 2023 for Qatar, before being extended to five regional Gulf neighbours.

    In January, it was expanded to require nationals of around 50 more countries and territories, including Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand to obtain an ETA, after opening applications for them in November 2024.

    Almost 1.1 million visitors were issued with ETAs before the end of 2024, according to the UK Home Office.

    The ETA application currently costs £10 (12 euros, $12.70), but is set to increase to £16. It permits visits of up to six months, and is valid for two years.

    Visitors can apply for an ETA through a smartphone app or UK government website, with “the vast majority of applications currently receiving a decision automatically in minutes”, the Home Office said in a statement.

    The application involves collecting biographic and biometric data, as well as answering some background questions. If successful, the ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport.

    “By digitising the immigration system we are paving the way for a contactless UK border,” said Migration Minister Seema Malhotra.

    “Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation.”

    Flight passengers transiting airside without crossing the UK border are exempt from the scheme, after pressure from Heathrow which feared a loss of passenger footfall connecting through Europe’s busiest airport.

    Almost 84 million passengers passed through Heathrow in 2024 — a third from the neighbouring EU.

    Only Heathrow and Manchester airports have provisions for airside transit in the UK.

    Visitors will need an ETA to transit through other busy airports like Gatwick and Stansted, which require international passengers to go through border security checks on landing.

    ETA mirrors the ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany, which has been delayed and is not expected to start in the first half of 2025.

  • ‘60% of solar products in Nigeria, below standard’

    ‘60% of solar products in Nigeria, below standard’

    Experts in the renewable energy sector have revealed that 60 percent of solar products in Nigeria fail to meet quality standards, posing a significant threat to the country’s transition to clean energy.

    A solar energy specialist, Engr. Chinedu Okwaraoka, stated that over 60 percent of solar products imported into Nigeria do not meet international quality standards due to poor regulation and enforcement gaps.

    Speaking on Thursday at a webinar titled: Understanding Solar Panel Efficiency and Battery Storage: What Every Consumer Should Know, organized by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation, CADEF, industry leaders highlighted critical policy gaps in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

    Okwaraoka warned: “Without strong oversight, low-quality products will continue to flood the market, making consumers skeptical about investing in solar energy. This will ultimately hinder Nigeria’s clean energy goals.”

    The experts called for the urgent enactment of a Renewable Energy Act to enforce standardization and curb the influx of substandard products, which undermine consumer confidence and slow down renewable energy adoption.

    Also speaking, a renewable energy expert and former President of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria, Dr. Segun Adaju, noted that while Nigeria has multiple renewable energy policies, including the National Energy Policy (2022), the Renewable Energy Master Plan (2011), and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (2015)-they lack legal backing, making enforcement weak and inconsistent.

    Adaju stated: “We have policies, but they are fragmented and unenforceable. Unlike Ghana and Kenya, which have clear legislative frameworks for renewable energy, Nigeria still struggles with policy implementation due to the absence of a Renewable Energy Act.”

    Experts at the webinar outlined how a Renewable Energy Act would address these pressing challenges by enforcing policy consistency, unifying and strengthening existing policies under a coherent, enforceable legal framework.

    They noted that by enhancing quality control, introducing strict importation and certification guidelines to prevent substandard solar products from entering the market among others.

    In her address, CADEF’s Executive Director, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, stressed the urgent need for a legal framework to protect consumers and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to clean energy.

    She said: “Nigeria has the potential to lead in renewable energy, but without a strong legal foundation, inefficiencies and poor implementation will persist. The time for a Renewable Energy Act is now.”

  • Meta fires employees for leaking confidential information

    Meta fires employees for leaking confidential information

    Meta on Thursday said it had laid off 20 workers for leaking information to the media, as the social media giant faces pressure over the recent political shift of its boss Mark Zuckerberg towards US President Donald Trump.

    “We tell employees when they join the company, and we offer periodic reminders, that it is against our policies to leak internal information, no matter the intent,” a Meta spokesperson said, confirming a story first reported in The Verge.

    “We recently conducted an investigation that resulted in roughly 20 employees being terminated for sharing confidential information outside the company, and we expect there will be more,” the company added.

    “We take this seriously, and will continue to take action when we identify leaks.”

    The round of firings came following a recent series of reports based on Zuckerberg’s meetings with employees.

    In one meeting, first reported by The Verge, Zuckerberg told employees he would no longer be forthcoming with information because “we try to be really open and then everything I say leaks. It sucks.”

    He also warned them to “buckle up” for the coming year and said that Meta would be a productive partner with the White House.

    Tech leaders have broadly fallen in line around Trump since he won the election in November, with Zuckerberg making a particular turn towards the Republican since his return to office.

    Zuckerberg has multiplied his advances towards Trump, who last summer threatened the tech tycoon with life imprisonment after Meta excluded the president from Facebook in January 2021 for encouraging the assault on the Capitol.

    The CEO and founder has dined with the Republican on several occasions, donated to the president’s inauguration fund, eased up on content moderation, and ended Facebook’s US fact-checking program in an effort to draw closer to the new Republican leadership in Washington.

    His longtime political affairs boss was also replaced by a prominent Republican, and he named Trump ally Dana White to his board after the US election.

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    The measures align with the conservative views of the president and his allies, as well as masculinist entertainers and personalities like Elon Musk.

    On the Joe Rogan podcast, Zuckerberg complained that “a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered” and that embracing masculine energy “is good.”

  • How technology can mitigate global teaching crisis — Report

    How technology can mitigate global teaching crisis — Report

    A report by the Global Partnership for Education, GPE, under the auspices of the World Bank, has noted that well-designed technology initiatives, managed and implemented by qualified and caring educators, can significantly enhance educational opportunities for both teachers and students and help tackle the ongoing global teaching crisis.

    Read Also: APC NEC: Buhari, Osinbajo, Amaechi absent as Tinubu woos aggrieved members

    The report was titled “Bridging the gap: How technology can mitigate the global teaching crisis.” While the report enumerated a number of measures to take to curb the global teaching crisis, it, however, said such measures require long-term planning and funding, and their benefits may take years to accrue.

    “In the meantime, there’s another tool we can leverage to help address quantity and quality issues at the heart of the global teaching crisis: technology. While it is no substitute for a sustained commitment to recruit, develop and retain excellent teachers, well-designed technology initiatives—managed and implemented by qualified and caring educators—can significantly enhance educational opportunities for both teachers and students.”

    It gave three such examples:

    Technology can expand access to quality education

    Every region across the globe faces teacher shortages, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia where there is rapid population growth. Technology can connect students who lack teachers so that they can continue their education.

    Where robust internet access exists, virtual classes can provide instruction to students lacking qualified teachers, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects.

    Online learning platforms, such as the National Education Equity Lab, offer underserved students access to a greater pool of educators and diversity in subject choices.

    Online human tutors and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) tutors can bridge gaps in subject expertise, providing flexible and personalized learning opportunities to students.

    Where internet infrastructure is less prevalent or reliable, instructional television (ITV) is often the delivery mechanism of choice. Brazil’s Amazonas region (an area the size of France), Egypt, Ghana, México, Pakistan and Turkey currently use ITV to provide access to schooling.

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    With ITV, a trained teacher delivers a lesson via satellite TV from a television studio, either live or pre-recorded, to a group of students in a school or community center. Lessons are aligned to the curriculum, shared in small increments (15–30 minutes) throughout the school day and are typically followed by in-class small-group and individual work, questions and answers or discussion.

    Technology can compensate for variable teaching quality

    Many teachers struggle with basic content knowledge, communicating in the language of instruction and using effective instructional techniques. Well-designed technology initiatives can link students to high-quality instruction, driving improvements in literacy, numeracy and foundational skills.

    Experimental studies in Ghana, México, Pakistan, and Zanzibar have highlighted technology’s ability to reduce the ill effects of low-quality teaching. Computer-aided instruction and educational apps have counterbalanced inferior quality instruction, standardized quality instruction and ensured students’ educational attainment in foundational skills.

    Educational tools that make use of artificial intelligence can assist untrained teachers, volunteer teachers or teachers teaching outside their content area with planning lessons, designing assessments and developing learning materials.

    Technologies don’t need to be advanced or cutting edge to be effective. Even the simplest ones can improve instructional quality.

    Capitalizing on a technology educators already own and know—such as their phones—is an effective strategy. Rocket Learning, a 2023 WISE Award winner, sends daily text- and image-based messages to over 120,000 early childhood educators across 5 states in India. These messages offer practical, research-based strategies on promoting literacy, numeracy, child development, socio-emotional learning and classroom management.

    Interactive audio instruction (IAI)—a distance learning technology that makes use of radio and audio devices for teaching—has been particularly effective in delivering high-quality instruction to classrooms headed by untrained or poorly qualified teachers.

    Programmes like the Education Development Center’s IAI program in the Democratic Republic of Congo show that students participating in IAI spend more time engaged with educational content, which leads to improved learning outcomes in turn, compared to students attending non-IAI schools.

    Technology can provide professional learning to teachers

    Two of the biggest barriers to teacher access to professional learning are geography and scheduling. Technology can mitigate both.In areas with weak or no pre-service systems, IAI can guide and support community volunteers, paraprofessionals and even secondary-level students who serve as teachers. Studies have shown that IAI can compensate for the learning curves required of novice teachers with little degradation in the quality of instruction, maintaining instructional quality as teachers and students respond to audio prompts and exercises.

    Different technologies can target various aspects of a teacher’s development. Teachers may use computer-aided instruction programs to learn a new concept, coteach it in real time via Zoom with a master teacher, participate in WhatsApp professional learning communities for feedback or engage in self-paced and self-directed online learning through YouTube and Facebook groups.

    Online pre-service teacher preparation programs, like the University of South Africa’s online B.A. in education and similar pre-service programs offered by many open universities, can democratize access to education, enabling prospective teachers to gain certification remotely.

    For example, from the late 1980s to the 1990s, China’s Television Teachers’ College prepared hundreds of thousands of teachers through instructional television.Technology also offers teachers continuous learning opportunities. Online professional development platforms like the African Virtual University and Spain’s Escuela21 provide extensive teacher education across sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Latin America, reducing the logistical and financial barriers associated with traveling for in-person professional learning.

    Well-designed online learning can also standardize the quality of instruction teachers receive and model engaging, interactive teaching methods.From virtual schools to mobile phones, to instructional TV and interactive audio instruction, technology can play an important role in the multifaceted approach to addressing the global teaching crisis by providing access to quality education, compensating for variable teaching standards and providing professional development to teachers.But technology is not a silver bullet. It cannot replace the hard work of better preparing and rewarding the world’s teachers. It still requires access to infrastructure—whether electricity, internet, cellular connectivity or broadcast signals. And it also demands highly skilled course designers, content developers and teachers.

    Courses must also be designed with access, equity and quality in mind.However, when technology initiatives are carefully designed and thoughtfully implemented by well-trained, committed and qualified educators and implementing agencies, they can significantly address challenges tied to the absence of teachers and improve educational outcomes by providing consistent, high-quality content and learning to the students and teachers who need them most.

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