Telecom companies provide free access to online learning

Two telecommunication companies – MTN Rwanda and Airtel Rwanda – are offering free access to online learning materials for all students from the University of Rwanda and the Rwanda polytechnics in a move aimed at helping the higher education sector keep functioning in spite of the closure of universities and schools on 21 March.

In a statement on Twitter, MTN Rwanda said it supports the government's efforts to ensure continued learning for students during this period.

“In partnership with @RwandaICT and @Rwanda_Edu, we have made online access to Rwandan universities and school websites free,” it said. “This is to allow students to access in-house learning materials.”

All the students from the University of Rwanda and the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centres (those doing university studies in TVET options) can access online materials using their computers or their mobile phones, according to officials.

Alain Numa, MTN spokesperson, said some students could not afford daily airtime “especially in this trying time”. He said the company also “wanted to emphasis the partnership with the government”.

Airtel also tweeted it had made free access available to e-learning portals to help students to be more productive while studying remotely.

According to official figures, Rwanda enjoys 95% internet coverage, with most being able to access 4G internet.

Gordon Kalema, director general for digital transformation in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, said that all the sites were “zero rated” thanks to the partnership with the telecommunication companies. He said traffic to the educational sites was “already high”.

Students welcomed the move.

“It is a good move for us and we are happy for the partnership. Accessing such online learning materials will help us gain more skills and avoid being upset in this lockdown,” said Emmanuel Kubwimana from the University of Rwanda.

The University of Rwanda issued a statement in the second week of the lockdown urging students to use the platforms.

“This is the beginning of the second trimester and many of you will have received the learning materials for the modules you have registered for. Go beyond the learning for passing CATs and summative exams and engage these learning materials so that you achieve a level … from which you can even teach your peers,” said Professor Philip Cotton, the University of Rwanda’s vice-chancellor.