In 2015, the United Nations determined the reduction of poverty as the biggest global challenge that needs to be solved to enable sustainable development. Sub-Saharan Africa is the poorest region worldwide with half of its population regarded as poor. Education is regarded as the main route to reverse this trend. 

Lesego is 18 and lives in an isolated village in western Botswana. She is smart and wants to study for a degree, but the nearest universities are several hundred miles away in the east of the country, and she cannot afford to relocate.

Instead, she is learning remotely. She does not use a computer, because her family cannot afford one and the electricity supply is prone to frequent outages, but her newly purchased smartphone allows her access to the internet and a suite of online courses – offered by some of the most respected universities in the world – as well as the most up-to-date literature, all at very little cost. This will enable her to complete her degree and graduate, which is unusual for girls from her region. 

According to figures from the Department of Higher Education and Training, the average undergraduate graduation rate in South African universities is just 15 per cent, rising to 20 per cent for those on master’s courses.

“Mobile technology allows universities to deliver content, offer learning support and communicate with these students more effectively and at a lower cost,” Dolf Jordaan the head of e-learning at the University of Pretoria  says, adding that improved contact with students could help to boost graduation rates.

Learn about how theunconnected.org connects students around the world.