Latest news with #digitalliteracy
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Report will mark conclusion of Jersey child online safety review
A report is set to be produced as part of a review examining whether measures to keep Jersey children safe from harm online are sufficiently Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel said it had finished gathering evidence and aimed to release the report, with recommendations for the government, in September. It said six public hearings had been held as part of the review and it had received a number of submissions from key stakeholders and members of the of the panel, Deputy Catherine Curtis, said "key themes" had emerged as part of the investigation. She said: "The contributions we have received have helped highlight both the progress that has been made and the significant challenges that remain in keeping children safe online. "Key themes that have emerged include the growing risk of exposure to harmful content on social media platforms, the need for better digital literacy education both in and out of school and the use of mobile phones."The States of Jersey said several government policies had been introduced since the review launched in February, "most notably the ban on mobile phones in schools"."Our next steps will involve analysing the evidence received in detail and preparing a report with clear, actionable recommendations," Curtis added.
Zawya
17-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
American Tower Corporation (ATC) Kenya Partners with Mawingu Foundation to Launch Digital Communities
AFRICA Through American Tower's Digital Communities program, the three-year partnership will provide technology-equipped spaces that offer digital literacy for youth, vocational training for adults, and access to healthcare services. The initiative will benefit institutions such as vocational training centers, dispensaries, secondary schools and special schools, directly impacting over 50,000 beneficiaries. ATC Kenya ( a leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure, and the Mawingu Foundation—the social impact arm of Mawingu Networks Limited—are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at bridging the digital divide across Kenya. This partnership will provide underserved and unserved communities with access to connectivity, digital learning materials, modern equipment, and essential digital skills. This initiative will benefit a wide range of institutions including Vocational Training Centers (VTCs), dispensaries, secondary schools, special schools, and surrounding communities. The program is expected to directly impact more than 50,000 individuals over the life of the partnership. Central to this effort is ATC's Digital Communities program, which offers technology-equipped spaces that deliver digital literacy for youth, vocational and financial training for adults, and access to healthcare services. By combining this model with the Mawingu Foundation's community reach and expertise, the partnership aims to foster inclusive development and equitable access to digital opportunities. 'At ATC Kenya, we are driven by our commitment to bridging the digital divide and by the belief that connectivity—especially in underserved and unserved areas—is essential to transforming lives and empowering communities,' said George Odenyo, CEO of ATC Kenya. 'This is why partnerships with entities like the Mawingu Foundation are vital to achieving our vision of building a more connected Kenya.' Mawingu CEO, Farouk Ramji, noted that 'As Mawingu Foundation, we believe that closing the digital divide must start where the gap is widest, and this is in the heart of rural and peri-urban communities that we are dedicated to transforming. The Digital Communities initiative is proof that with the right partnerships, we can deliver meaningful, sustainable internet access where it matters most.' The collaboration will focus on identifying and supporting institutions most in need, ensuring that digital tools and connectivity are accessible where they can make the greatest impact. By addressing educational disparities and promoting digital inclusion, the partnership is set to create lasting change across Kenya. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of American Tower Corporation. Media Contacts: American Tower Mawingu Foundation press@ About ATC Kenya: ATC Kenya is a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation, one of the largest global telecommunications Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. ATC Kenya owns and operates over 4,200 telecommunications sites across the country, helping mobile network operators and other telecommunication providers confidently deliver communications connectivity to consumers throughout Kenya. For more information, visit: About Mawingu Foundation: Mawingu Foundation is the philanthropic and community development arm of Mawingu, dedicated to bridging the digital divide in underserved regions of Africa. The Mawingu Foundation is committed to expanding access to meaningful internet connectivity, digital infrastructure, and learning tools that empower youth, educators, and community institutions. Through strategic partnerships and on-the-ground initiatives, Mawingu Foundation focuses on enabling inclusive access to knowledge, opportunity, and innovation, ensuring that no community is left behind in the digital age. Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release. The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. 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South China Morning Post
02-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must ensure a quality AI education is available to all
Hong Kong's inaugural Digital Education Week is a landmark effort to accelerate a digital transformation in education and cultivate students' digital literacy. More than a tech showcase, it is a call to action for educators, policymakers and communities to engage deeply with the discussion on what a quality technical education means in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. Advertisement This is an opportunity for Hong Kong to reaffirm its commitment to setting a global example of responsible AI integration in education. Having spent over a decade navigating the complex terrain of global education policy, I have seen how technological waves reshape classrooms and societies alike. AI is no longer a distant promise but an immediate force transforming how we teach and learn. This transformation demands a paradigm shift in pedagogy , where critical thinking, ethical reasoning and creativity become central to the curriculum, preparing students not just to use AI, but to question and shape it. AI's transformative potential is undeniable. Its ability to personalise learning, provide real-time feedback and free teachers from routine tasks can revolutionise education. Yet AI's benefits are not guaranteed – they depend on the deliberate choices societies make. Without thoughtful policies, AI risks deepening inequalities and concentrating advantages among a privileged few. This risk is especially acute in a city like Hong Kong, where wealth disparity is severe. Oxfam Hong Kong revealed a poverty rate of 20.2 per cent in the first quarter of last year, with over 1.39 million people living in poverty. Meanwhile, the poorest 10 per cent of households earn 81.9 times less than the richest 10 per cent – a stark increase from 34.3 times in 2019. Advertisement Such divides translate directly into unequal access to digital tools and AI-enabled learning opportunities, which threatens to widen the education gap. To prevent AI from becoming another driver of social exclusion, Hong Kong must adopt inclusive policies that ensure equitable access to a quality AI education.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Google Overhauls Its Education Suite With Free, Powerful AI For All
Top down View: Children in a School Use Tablets and Laptops to Study Digital Literacy, AI Data Lines ... More Connect into Learning. Diverse Kids Connected Through Digital Knowledge Network, Modern Technology Today at the ISTE education conference in San Antonio, Google dropped a series of announcements that could fundamentally reshape how AI fits into the classroom. In a sweeping move that positions artificial intelligence not as an add-on but as the new baseline, the company introduced major updates to its education suite. These updates make its most powerful tools free for schools across the globe. At the heart of the rollout is Google's Gemini AI, now fully integrated across its ecosystem for education. No longer gated behind premium subscriptions or experimental rollouts, Gemini is now baked into Google Workspace for Education at no cost. That means millions of teachers and students now have direct access to one of the most advanced AI models in the world, with higher usage caps than what's offered to average consumers. 'We're not just adding features,' said Shantanu Sinha, VP of Google for Education. 'We're reshaping the entire foundation of how we support teaching and learning in the AI age.' A New Standard The biggest headline from Google's announcement is simple but seismic: Gemini for Education is now the default experience for all Google education accounts. Schools that once hesitated due to budget or privacy concerns now find themselves with enterprise-grade tools and protections. Crucially, Google reiterated that it won't use educational account data to train its models. This point was underscored by its recent certification from Common Sense Media, a third-party privacy seal that will likely ease administrators' nerves. For schools wanting deeper AI capabilities, a new premium tier called Google AI Pro for Education is also launching. It rolls previous paid tiers into one consolidated offering, unlocking features like AI-generated audio lessons and expanded content creation tools. AI in the Classroom The most visible impact will likely be felt in Google Classroom. Teachers logging in will soon see a new Gemini tab, a sort of AI control center offering over 30 education-specific tools designed to streamline and enrich teaching. Teachers can now generate entire lesson plans, build vocabulary lists with example sentences, craft math problems and quizzes, draft parent emails, and even receive prompts to gamify classroom content. And all of this is free to anyone with a Google Workspace for Education account. 'We're giving teachers their time back,' said Cinthya Mohr, a product lead at Google Classroom. 'Our goal is to let them focus on the art of teaching, not the paperwork behind it.' Personalized Learning Google also revealed new student-facing tools that expand the concept of personalized AI-powered learning. NotebookLM, a popular research and study assistant, will soon be available to students under 18 via school accounts. Google says it includes content safety layers tailored for young learners. Meanwhile, 'Gems', which are customizable versions of Gemini built around specific educational goals, can now be created by instructional leaders and shared across an entire district. A teacher might design a Gem trained solely on class materials, transforming it into a Socratic tutor for after-school study help. These tools can be assigned through Google Classroom or integrated platforms like Canvas and Schoology, creating a seamless workflow between planning, teaching, and learning. In addition, teachers will now be able to use NotebookLM and Gems to: Educators will also be able to tag coursework with national or state learning standards and get analytics on student performance across assignments. Smarter Tools for Creativity Creativity also gets a boost through the expanded rollout of Google Vids. Now available to all Google Workspace for Education users, Vids allows: Smarter Devices AI's reach doesn't stop at software. Google is also upgrading the hardware and systems that run the modern classroom. A new teaching mode for managed Chromebooks, dubbed Class tools, gives educators real-time classroom control. Features include: Broadcasting instructions with live-translated captions for multilingual or hearing-impaired learners. Real-time student screen sharing, helping teachers track focus or showcase work. A 'Focus mode' that locks devices to specific tabs or apps, reducing distractions and helping younger students navigate with ease. On the device front, Google is partnering with Lenovo to launch the first Chromebook Plus with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), enabling fast, on-device AI processing. New Chromebox OPS units from partners like LG and CTL will also make it easier for schools to convert smart boards into ChromeOS-powered teaching hubs. Looking Ahead Taken together, these announcements mark a shift for Google and the entire educational tech sector. By embedding powerful AI directly into free tools already in widespread use, Google is forcing a rethink of what digital learning should look like in 2025 and beyond. Where AI once required extra funding, special training, or cautious pilots, Google is trying to make it turnkey. The road ahead isn't without its bumps. Many schools may lack the modern hardware needed to fully benefit from these upgrades. And while the tools are user-friendly, effective adoption will still depend on investing in professional development. Teachers need support—not just to use AI, but to shape it into something that reflects their values and pedagogy. But if there's one clear message from Google's ISTE showcase, it's this: the AI era of education has well and truly arrived.
Zawya
27-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Powering Women's Economic Transformation in Tanzania
In Kigoma, Tanzania, where over 80 per cent of livelihoods rely on small-scale farming, fishing, and informal trade, women constitute the majority of the agricultural workforce and are the backbone of the region's economy. However, in an increasingly digital economy, limited digital literacy remains a major barrier to unlocking women's full economic potential, with many women in the region lacking the necessary skills to use mobile platforms, digital financial services, or online marketplaces, impeding the growth and formalization of women-led businesses. Amid these challenges, women like Chichi Ramadhani Kamandwa are increasingly harnessing digital tools to grow their businesses. A 39-year-old mother of three and a determined entrepreneur living in Kigoma town, Kamandwa runs a small-scale agro-processing business specializing in the milling and packaging of maize, cassava, and nutrient-rich flours. In 2024, she participated in a Digital Literacy and Branding workshop organized by UN Women to equip women entrepreneurs in the region with practical skills to expand their businesses and access wider markets through digital platforms. The initiative formed part of the second phase of the UN Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP II) - a collaborative effort of 17 UN agencies working with local authorities and communities to advance development and human security in Kigoma - and engaged beneficiaries of UN Women's "Binti Dijitali" African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), who facilitated sessions with hands-on technical expertise and peer-led guidance. 'Before the training, I only used my phone for calls and taking pictures. I didn't know it could be a marketing tool for my business, helping me showcase my products online, reach more customers, and improve my record-keeping,' said Kamandwa. With the skills she has acquired, Chichi is now transforming her business. 'I learned how to create product labels, list ingredients and registration numbers to build customer trust, and package my products attractively,' said Kamandwa, adding that the most beneficial change she made was improving my packaging. 'I realized how much the look of a product matters. After updating my logo and labels and switching to better-quality packaging, my sales increased significantly, because customers had more confidence in my brand,' she explains. Kamandwa also began using accessible platforms such as WhatsApp to reach new customers, advertise her products, and receive orders. In Kigoma, many women entrepreneurs navigate complex social and economic realities. Alongside their business efforts, they often carry the primary responsibility for household care and income generation, frequently without consistent support from partners. 'Once a woman begins to earn, she is often left to shoulder everything alone,' Kamadwa explains. 'Some men leave for work in other towns, return only briefly, and then leave again, while the woman is left behind to care for the children, run the household, and manage her business on her own.' Additionally, limited access to financial services or reliable support systems leaves women vulnerable to unfair treatment or exploitative arrangements, particularly when trying to access markets or services. 'When you lack information or tools, people take advantage of you,' says Kamandwa. Through strategic partnerships with local government authorities, trade officers, mobile service providers, and private sector actors, UN Women, under KJP II, is working to create an inclusive and enabling business environment for women and youth. 'Initiatives such as the digital literacy workshop aim to strengthen the capacity of women-led enterprises to adopt innovative, market-driven practices, build resilience, and transition into formal markets for sustainable growth,' says Ms. Lilian Mwamdanga, UN Women Specialist for Women's Economic Empowerment. According to Kamandwa, the benefits of workshops like these extend well beyond the knowledge they gain. They create opportunities for women to connect with peers, share experiences, and establish lasting support networks. 'We have even formed small groups to support and uplift one another,' she shares. 'I have also started teaching other women how to use their phones for business. It might seem like a small thing, but it can really transform how we work and sell.' The use of digital platforms has also empowered women like Kamandwa to manage their sales independently, reducing reliance on informal and often unreliable intermediaries. With increased visibility and growing sales, Kamandwa has expanded her inventory and begun selling her products in bulk. She also hopes to continue mentoring others and to start providing training for young women interested in business, so they too can build a future of their own. 'If I can do this, I believe other women can too. We just need the right support and a chance to grow,' she says. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
