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        A New FWA-based Digital Education Ecosystem in Senegal



        Ericsson has signed an agreement     As part of this partnership, Free   by 1.1%. This report also shows that
        with Free and the Pikine-Guédiawaye   Senegal will provide quality internet   access to a multitude of resources
        Academy Inspectorate of the Ministry   connectivity and both partners will   and new forms of learning, such as
        of National Education to implement   provide laptops for learning. The   adaptive learning platforms, internet
        a digital education ecosystem in five   Academy Inspectorate of Pikine-  access and digital learning, play an
        schools in Pikine-Guédiawaye.        Guédiawaye will play a crucial role in   important role in improving the quality
                                             strengthening the digital capacities of   of education globally.
        Following a Memorandum of            teachers by training them in the use
        Understanding announced in 2023      of new tools and their integration into   Mamadou Mbengue, Managing
        by Ericsson and Free to improve      their teaching practice.            Director at Free Senegal underlines:
        educational opportunities through                                        “At Free, we work every day to
        technology, the inauguration of these   Gana SENE, Academy Inspector of   promote progress, innovation, and
        connected classrooms demonstrates    the Pikine-Guédiawaye Academy       connectivity, thus strengthening
                                                                                 our mission to propel Senegal into
                                                                                 a prosperous digital era. Through
                                                                                 the Connect to Learn program,
                                                                                 we are determined to achieve
                                                                                 Sustainable Development Goal #4
                                                                                 by ensuring equitable access to
                                                                                 quality education and strengthening
                                                                                 learning capacities in Senegal. In
                                                                                 this perspective, our “Jang ak Free”
                                                                                 program aims to sustainably improve
                                                                                 schooling conditions in Senegal
                                                                                 by offering present and future
                                                                                 generations the best prospects. This
                                                                                 strategic partnership between Free
                                                                                 and Ericsson makes it possible to
                                                                                 provide cutting-edge educational
        the common desire to guarantee       Inspectorate of the Ministry of National   resources to communities, thereby
        quality education in an equitable    Education of Senegal declares: “Our   contributing to the digital growth and
        manner, thus strengthening the       partnership with Ericsson and Free   development of all.
        autonomy of teachers and students    marks an important step in our
        through access to quality internet   contribution to the deployment of the   Majda Lahlou Kassi, Vice President
        connectivity and the development of   strategy of digital technology of the   and Head of Ericsson West Africa and
        digital skills.                      Ministry of National Education and   Morocco, said: “Ericsson's Connect to
                                             the national vision of human capital   Learn initiative aims to improve
        This project aims to connect the     development. We firmly believe that   educational opportunities through
        schools concerned to existing radio   we must utilize the opportunities   innovative technology for young
        networks powered by Ericsson and     offered by the emergence of an      people around the world. With this in
        operated by Free Senegal using       information society. Through this   mind, we designed and launched this
        Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions   partnership, we are demonstrating   project to have a positive impact on
        that are quick to deploy and cost-   how schools, teachers and the       an individual, community and
        effective, and will contribute to    education sector in Senegal can take   national scale. This partnership
        reducing the digital divide. These   a leap forward towards the school of   reflects our commitment to using
        schools will receive devices and     the future.”                        technologies such as Fixed Wireless
        equipment intended to promote                                            Access to promote inclusive
        interactive learning in the classroom.   The Economist Intelligence Unit   education and a brighter future. We
        Ericsson will provide access to its   (EIU) report quantifies how school   are excited to contribute to a
        open-source, cloud-based Connect     connectivity is a key factor in     transformation that transcends
        to Learn operating system and        improving learning outcomes and     borders, by making quality education
        learning management system to        thriving economies, finding that a 10%   accessible in a few schools in
        improve lesson planning and delivery   increase in school connectivity can   Senegal.’’
        and ensure more pupil-focused        increase children's effective years of
        teaching.                            schooling by 0.6%, and GDP per capita
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