A wing under the Ministry of Science & Higher Education has developed a digital learning platform and a library platform to continue the education that was cut off due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

A team of six experts under the Ethiopian Education & Research Network has developed the e-learning system, which allows students to continue class online outside of a traditional classroom. The team also developed a digital library where students can study online. It took a month for the team to create both systems, which were launched two weeks ago.

Both the digital library and e-learning system will be overseen, monitored and regulated by the Ministry of Science & Higher Education.

“Developing an e-learning system was initially planned; however, because of the virus, we took immediate action using the material we had prepared so far,” said Zelalem Assefa, director general at the Research Network.

The digital library, which is set up on a local server, can be accessed through the internet after the user registers and is now on the website for students from the public and private universities. On the e-learning platform, university lecturers are required to upload courses and recordings to the site.

The government closed all private and public schools including universities due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the potential transmission of the virus. Since the closure, students have returned home from all universities. Elementary and high school students are also staying at home.

The new system will help the students to continue their courses online, according to Zelalem.

For the current fiscal year, the country allocated 50.6 billion Br for education, which covers 13pc of the federal budget. The nation has 50 public universities, and 873,000 students were studying for their first degrees during the last academic year. There are also 38 teacher education colleges throughout the country that provide a three-year diploma in teaching through regular, summer and extension programmes. There are also over 174 private universities and colleges throughout the country.

The platforms also allow universities and educational & research institutions to use video conferences, upload teaching and learning materials, chat online and submit assignments. Currently, students that are from grades one to eight are taking their subjects through radio, while grades nine to twelve are using television and the Ministry of Education's website.

Anegagregn Gashaw, president of Debre Tabor University, says that digitising the educational system will help higher education institutions continue the education that was interrupted because of the virus.