The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with  Shega  Media & Technology, is introducing EdTech Mondays: a monthly radio show that will serve as a platform to facilitate critical conversations on using technology for teaching and learning in Ethiopia.

To be broadcasted on Ethio FM 107.8, EdTech Mondays will discuss issues that affect the use of technology in education and bring together key stakeholders, including policymakers, EdTech entrepreneurs, teachers, and parents.

EdTech Mondays, which will air its first installment today, October 3, at 8 PM, will begin with an introduction of its objective and the benefits of EdTech in Ethiopia.

In this episode, the reason behind the show’s launch, the parties involved, and the importance of this collaboration will be explored. Beyond that, the guests will discuss, at length, what it means for a country like Ethiopia to integrate digital learning and online learning resources into formal education.

The upcoming show will feature Samuel Yalew, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation, Ethiopia, Aster Minwyelet (Ph.D.), Lead of Mastercard Foundation Regional Programs in Eastern & Southern Africa, Zelalem Assefa (Ph.D.), ICT & Digital Lead at Ministry of Education and Anteneh Tesfaye, CEO of Shega Media & Technology.

The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world, with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world.

The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.

An integrated, Africa-wide conversation of EdTech Monday airs monthly on CNBC Africa and the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works Facebook Page. In alignment with the monthly Africa theme, Mastercard Foundation offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria, in partnership with local EdTech support organizations, disseminate the discussions with local context, experts, nuances, and case studies.

It’s with this spirit that the Mastercard Foundation Ethiopia office collaborated with Shega Media & Technology, an Addis Ababa-based digital media and research company that focuses on the innovation, technology, and startup space in Ethiopia, to produce EdTech Mondays in Ethiopia with contextualized issues.

Two more episodes will follow today’s airing in November and December 2022. The November edition will deal with the topic from the gender perspective and discuss if EdTech can improve access to education for girls in Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the December episode will focus on how EdTech can help increase access to education and skills for learners with disabilities.