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Empowering Teachers with Technology for Inclusive Learning: A Pilot Initiative in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, the NGO Light for the World and UNESCO have collaborated on a pilot project aimed at empowering teachers living with disabilities with digital skills. This initiative targets critical gaps in accessible learning materials and strives to create a more inclusive education system.
Empowering Teachers with Technology for Inclusive Learning

There is a critical need to enhance teachers' digital literacy to foster inclusive education in Burkina Faso. Light for the World and UNESCO have jointly launched an innovative pilot project to address these challenges. This project aligns with , ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to enhancing teachers' digital skills for inclusive education.

By leveraging technology, the project effectively breaks down accessibility barriers, creating a more inclusive learning environment. It highlights the role of OER and the 2019 Recommendation on OER, as a framework for inclusive and accessible education. 

We need to evolve, leave the old system, and go with the new system, which is the use of these devices in our schools.

François ZongoTeacher

Phases of Educational Empowerment: From Resource Development to Collaborative Partnerships

The project is set to develop self-study and training resources in French, Mooré and English, to empower teachers in utilizing technology effectively for accessible learning. These resources are pivotal in enhancing teachers' digital literacy and their ability to create inclusive learning content and exams tailored to students with disabilities. Additionally, a select group of 20 teachers are involved in piloting and refining the resources. Key to the project's success are partnerships with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, School for the Visually Impaired (EJA), National Union of Associations for the Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired (UNABPAM) and the DAISY Consortium.

I'm going to make these texts accessible and train my students to use Bookshare to download documents, which will help them in their learning.

Sekou TraoreTeacher
Empowering Teachers with Technology for Inclusive Learning
Empowering Teachers with Technology for Inclusive Learning

Educational Challenges for Learners with Disabilities in Burkina Faso

Through a comprehensive needs assessment, the project identifies critical areas for improvement, setting the stage for transformative action. Key needs identified include keyboard proficiency, access to online libraries, ICT training for teachers and provision of assistive technology.

Worldwide, individuals with disabilities and those with low literacy skills constitute the largest demographic excluded from education. The World Blind Union estimates that the blind and visually impaired have access to only 1 to 7% of the books and reading materials available to those living without disabilities. In Sub-Sahara Africa, less than 1% of books are in accessible format. In Burkina Faso, the situation is even more dire, with most visually impaired student lacking access to textbooks. This severally impacts literacy and learning outcomes for students, hindering their ability to reach their full potential.

All teachers need to be trained in the production of accessible books, so that the day they must deal with a visually impaired person and even structure the documents, it enables sighted people to move around a bit quickly on different titles.

Ninon Monique Somelibrarian

Project Impact: Pioneering Innovations and Digital Public Goods

Significant progress has been achieved in fostering innovation and advancing educational accessibility. Accomplishments include developing Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Guidelines, advocacy materials and multilingual learning resources, enriching the global repository of educational materials.

The participants unanimously agreed that the training on accessible content production should be extended to all teachers. Anecdotal evidence suggests these efforts significantly benefit visually impaired students, granting them real-time access to the same textbooks as their sighted peers. 

Through the lens of technology, teachers with disabilities in Burkina Faso are not only acquiring essential digital skills but are also becoming catalysts for a more inclusive educational landscape. This aligns with the principles of the Recommendation on OER, emphasizing equitable access to quality educational materials for all learners. Looking ahead, the lessons learned in Burkina Faso should inspire similar initiatives worldwide, fostering a future where education transcends boundaries. 

For all the training courses, we've had a shift towards learning with ICT, the use of devices in Education. Because, by using them, we see that it facilitates education, and it allows us to be more efficient.

François ZongoTeacher