Abstract:
The paper seeks to highlight the importance of e-learning in the process of development. It is
evident that the need to improve agricultural education in the world is in the rise and this is
evidence by the 17 crafted sustainable developmental goals. In the midst of challenges such as
climate changes, economic meltdown increased food insecurity and environmental degradation,
the paper argues that e-learning has the potential to make a contribution in accelerating rural
development in developing economies. The study is basically a review of three selected African
countries namely, Tanzania, Nigeria and Kenya. It has found that e-learning has the potential to
address gaps in distance education and poorly delivered face-to-face education and training at
secondary and tertiary institutions of learning by bringing innovative, flexible and unbiased
quality education to learners across a larger scale.
The paper has found that improvement in education and training has both social and economic
impacts for users and has shown potential to greatly boost agriculture and education sector of
developing economies. However, limited funding, poor infrastructure and connectivity issues,
amongst others, pose a great threat to optimal use of ICT in e-learning strategies employed by
developing countries. The paper is making the following recommendations increased investment
in ICT infrastructure, incentivise IT based capacity building programmes and create public
awareness of the impact e-learning has in agriculture thereby promoting a culture of research and
innovation that can translate to competitive agricultural sector. South Africa, as a fast developing nation must harness efforts of e-leaning towards salvaging its crippled education and training
system. |
