eLearning seems like a natural fit for developing countries. Smaller, economically struggling nations gain access to education, training and teachers. It’s often difficult, however, to help developing countries assimilate to a new style of education. Lack of resources, information and Internet access can contribute to an uphill battle in bringing virtual learning to developing countries. Still, some have beaten the odds to implement virtual learning as viable training. See how below:
Sri Lanka: eLearning Courses
Sri Lanka struggles with a workforce mostly locked in low-paying jobs in garment and manufacturing factories. By allowing workers to engage in new learning methods, they increase the knowledge and skills for better jobs and a stronger economy. The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) currently offers eLearning courses and boasts around 18,000 enrolled students. The University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) has a virtual campus that is 17,000 strong, proving that distance and cost are less important factors in getting an education.
Lesotho: Math, Science & English
There’s an active movement toward eLearning in Africa, including the small nation of Lesotho. Educator Molieni Sekese recently won the Educator’s Choice award from the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum for her work in developing and implementing eLearning courses in math, science and English. She’s revolutionizing student access to quality education in African nations. Other African countries enjoying eLearning applications include Uganda, Nigeria and Mozambique, resulting in delivering resources to as many as 21 million educators across the continent.
Malaysia: University
Their economy relies on industry and agriculture. When the Universiti Tun Abdul Razak first began offering distance and eLearning courses in 1998, there was a scant 162 enrolled students. Fast-forward to 2005, and that movement has grown to over 7,500 students and enjoys steady growth today. UNITAR is helping to bring education to those farmers and factory workers that can have a serious impact on Malaysian economy.
