As the 17th edition of eLearning Africa, the esteemed international conference on digital learning, training, and skills development, draws near, anticipation mounts for the highly anticipated annual plenary debate. Set to commence on May 31st in Kigali, Rwanda, this year’s debate is poised to ignite a spirited clash of perspectives on the trajectory of education in the digital age.
Under the theme “This House believes that the Traditional Education System will become obsolete in the Digital Age,” the motion strikes at the core of the transformative influence technology wields on conventional educational paradigms. With over 1,000 African experts and practitioners in education and training slated to convene for the annual eLearning Africa Conference & Exhibition, the stage is set for robust discourse and insightful deliberations.
The eLearning Africa Debate, a fixture since its inception in 2009, has emerged as the conference’s hallmark event, distinguished for its dynamic and thought-provoking dialogue. Adhering to a parliamentary-style format, four esteemed panellists will deliver impassioned opening statements, punctuated by opportunities for spontaneous rebuttals, known as “interventions,” from their counterparts.
At the helm of the proceedings as chairperson is Hon. Michael Onyango, the visionary founder of Africa’s Forgotten Bottom Millions (4BM), a pioneering program fostering digital career opportunities for youth across 47 African nations.
Advocating in favour of the motion are:
– Ify Obidi Essien, CEO of Tech-Savvy Teacher International, is a revered EdTech consultant driving digital transformation in Nigerian classrooms.
– Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, Director of Makerere University’s Institute of Open, Distance, and eLearning, celebrated spearheading blended learning initiatives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opposing the notion are:
– Kennedy Ekezie, founder and CEO of Consize, a message-based learning platform, and former growth lead for TikTok’s African expansion.
– Verusha Maharaj, Managing Director of Red & Yellow Creative School of Business, is dedicated to bridging skill gaps through industry-aligned creative education.
Following the opening statements, the floor will be open for a dynamic debate, inviting audience members to contribute questions and perspectives. Ultimately, a decisive vote via a show of hands will determine the victor in this clash over education’s digital frontier.
As digital technologies continue to reshape myriad aspects of contemporary life, eLearning Africa’s annual debate promises an illuminating exploration into whether traditional education models can adapt and assimilate digital innovations or risk obsolescence. With its diverse panel and interactive format, the event ensures a thought-provoking discourse that is poised to catalyse further dialogue on this pivotal issue.
