Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Dotto Biteko has urged education stakeholders in Africa to develop a strategy and collaboration that will enable digital transformation in the education sector.
Dr. Biteko made the statement on May 08, 2025 in Dar es Salaam when he represented the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening of the 18th eLearning Africa Conference.
“Tanzania is advancing its commitment to digital transformation in education and we would like to collaborate with the Government, development partners, the private sector and scholars to make e-learning accessible and affordable for all”, said Dr. Biteko.
He said Tanzania is determined to lead in digital transformation in Africa where the National Development Vision 2050 recognizes that digital transformation is a key driver of economic growth, social development and global competitiveness.
To achieve this, Tanzania has developed several frameworks including the National ICT Policy and the Tanzania Digital Economy Strategy 2024-2034.
Dr. Biteko said the National Digital Education Strategy and the Tanzania Digital Programme aim to strengthen digital infrastructure and services, ensure that key technologies, equipment, connectivity and e-learning resources reach various parts of the country and that other countries also use their resources to support digital transformation in their countries.
He urged the stakeholders of the conference for Africa’s digital transformation to be successful, it must be enabled with a skilled workforce from an early age.
Tanzania has revised the National Education and Training Policy in 2023 and is a key example, emphasizing the development of skills starting from primary education.
“This policy also promotes the use of digital technologies to address teacher shortages, expand access to education, and improve the quality of learning. This approach prepares students for the future and empowers educators by providing them with the best teaching tools in the digital age”, said Dr. Biteko.
He said Africa must continue to improve the environment for local innovative companies by creating enabling policies that promote innovation and entrepreneurship to help grow local markets for transferable technologies and enable African countries to increase resource efficiency, reduce delays and accelerate digital transformation.
He said it is important for the African continent to retain skilled professionals within Africa and engage the diaspora to contribute to the continent’s growth. By making Africa a hub for technological development.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda said Tanzania has continued to invest in the use of technology in the education sector by promoting the use of digital intelligence in schools.
He said that through the Conference that began on May 07, 2025, it will provide an opportunity to strengthen and promote relations and cooperation in African countries in parallel with improving their education policies and systems to adapt to technology, innovation and especially the use of artificial intelligence.
Speaking about eLearning Africa, the Co-Founder of FIRCAD- Ghana, Dr. Aida Opoku- Mensah said artificial intelligence has great benefits for the development of including being used to solve challenges and perform human activities.
He said artificial intelligence has been of great importance in the daily life of man by also helping in conducting various research.
He spoke of Africa’s readiness for such use and said that some African countries have had a faster response to the use of artificial intelligence than others from its investment.
He gave the example of Kenya (m-school) and Nigeria already using artificial intelligence systems in its education systems and Tanzania through the brain that educates and entertains.
He said that the extensive use of artificial intelligence in China has helped boost its economy, Africa needs to invest in artificial intelligence to support various sectors of education and infrastructure.
The annual eLearning Africa Conference and Exhibition, which was founded in 2005, is a major event that provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge on digital education, training and skills on the African continent.
