E-learning in Ethiopia: A critical assessment of policy, regulatory framework and technological infrastructure, ‘Research-in-Progress’

Abstract

Education is a key factor for economic development. There is no single country that has achieved sound economic development without a well established education system. But access to tertiary education in developing countries is very limited, which is not more than 4% in Ethiopia. The demand for education exceeds the ability to deliver in most African countries, including Ethiopia. This is due to the huge costs of establishing, equipping and sustaining new higher education facilities. In general, there are huge problems in the education sector of these countries in the areas of access, quality and equity. In this regard countries look for alternative systems to tackle the prevailing problems in education sector. E-learning has been considered as one major alternative and it is believed that it can help economically underdeveloped countries to meet development challenges. But, available literature indicate that the implementation of elearning in these countries is mainly constrained by poor technological infrastructure and inadequate policy and regulatory frameworks. According to literature, few studies focus on the policy, regulatory framework and technological infrastructure readiness towards wider implementation of e-learning initiatives within the African context. Moreover, no study is pertinent to the Ethiopian context in particular. The aim of this study is, therefore, to critically assess the existing situation in Ethiopia in terms of the policy, regulatory and infrastructural frameworks in the areas of e-learning and demonstrates the extent of readiness of the country to implement e-learning in this regard. The research question of the study is that to what extent the existing technological infrastructure, policy and regulatory framework hinder the successful implementation of e-learning in Ethiopia?