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Let the women speak: how to accelerate digital learning in Guinea?

A panel of personalities committed to Guinean youth gathered at Saboutech incubator on June 22 during the FATA.school award ceremony for the winners of the latest FATA challenge. We wanted to hear their thoughts on how digital training can be improved.

Amadou S. Tall , student, author, entrepreneur and activist for the education and emancipation of young people, was the brilliant moderator of our panel.

In his introduction, he highlighted two major challenges for the digital transformation underway in Guinea: Internet connectivity and access to electricity both need to be improved if we want to see a better acquisition of digital skills.

FATA.school was honored to welcome a 100% female panel, made up of professionals resolutely committed to youth and the development of our country. Our guests spoke about three possible strategies for an acceleration of digital learning in Guinea:

• Involving more women
• Creating vocations from an early age
• Strengthening partnerships between actors in the field of digital education

Kadiatou Konaté, co-founder of the Club des Jeunes Filles Leaders de Guinée, shed some light on the challenges to be overcome: the education system is not good enough for young girls to take up digital studies, nor does society encourage them to do so. Among their predecessors, those who have succeeded in making a career in the digital sector need to share experiences, opportunities and network with younger girls.

The testimony of Mariama Ciré Sylla, a teacher and researcher and head of the Physics Department at Kindia University, is exemplary on several counts. It proves that encouragement from within the family is essential if a young girl is to take up subjects usually considered as manly. The world of sciences is not obscure - we need to debunk this perception. It provides many services in a woman's life. Parents need to understand this and support girls who show mathematical ability from an early age.

Kadiatou Diao Diallo, Telecom Engineer / ICT Support Officer, does not shy away from the difficulties she has to overcome as a woman in the field. She agrees with Ms. Sylla that you have to have goals, plan your time well and stay the course. Admittedly, there's still work to be done to change society's view of a woman's abilities in technological fields. But it's worth noting that IT offers a wealth of career opportunities in all sectors.

The Femme Tech Innovante association’s goal is to raise awareness among girls at a very early stage in their education, so that they can access professions where they are not expected. It's important for girls to have successful role models with whom they can identify, declared the association’s founder, Nene Aissata Bah.

Béatrice Kaba, who returned to Guinea to set up KulturaIT, a digital training center, noted that there are initiatives to encourage young people from the university level upwards. She recommends not waiting until so late in the school curriculum for an introduction to computer coding, via robotics workshops for example. A playful approach to teaching can help children, even the very youngest, to develop the ability to solve problems and invent solutions.

Fatoumata Binta Barry, engineer and trainer at Orange Digital Center, has observed a trend toward younger and younger participants in her workshops. Their enthusiasm for new technologies is massive, and they can see practical applications of what they learn in mathematics and physics. They're particularly proud to see projects they've created on display at Orange Digital Center.

Maimouna Diallo, digital marketing trainer and head of marketing at Nimba Hub, urged the young people in the audience to break away from the labels that might be assigned to them depending on their environment, and to prioritize their own will over the influence of societal prejudices, so as not to miss out on the concrete opportunities that present themselves.

Nimba Hub, at the head of the 1000 TechLeaders initiative, believes in Guinean excellence. Its trainers are recruited from the Guinean developer community via the network devscom. The training center works closely with a number of digital players in Guinea, including FATA.school.

Aissatou Baldé, Director of Simplon Guinée, points out that the shortage of digital talent is worldwide, and is surprised that so few women are seizing their chance at this potential. The number of women applying for free Simplon certifying courses is only 10%, despite the professional opportunities this certification offers.

Armelle Njam, Projects Director at Trust Africa, explains that digital skills have become indispensable in all professions. Computer literacy is an essential requirement for companies recruiting in Guinea. She urges young people to build their resumes around their digital skills and show off their know-how.

Amadou S. Tall concluded by encouraging all players in the digital field to build a synergy to support young people better. “Information is power”. Youth could miss out on training opportunities, jobs and extra-professional experiences due to a lack of communication. It's up to Guinean digital players to organize themselves to achieve a greater impact in the appropriation of the digital transformation for and by Guinean youth.

We regularly publish articles to inform our members and partners of the progress and impact of the FATA project. See all articles