“Parent Power: How to Support Digital Learning at Home in Africa”

Have you ever seen African parents learn how to use technology from their children? It is one of the rare moments we get to boss our parents around. (I remember the glorious days of teaching my mother how to use her first Motorola Razr V3. Now, my brother and Siri get to support her with her iPhone)

As technology transforms education, parents play an increasingly vital role in shaping their children’s learning experiences. But for many families across Africa, the journey to digital learning feels like climbing a steep hill: technology gaps, limited parental controls, and time constraints are just some hurdles. Yet, even with limited resources, parents can profoundly improve their children’s digital education. Research shows that parental acceptance and use of technology enhance their engagement in their children’s learning. While the direct link between parental use of technology and positive educational outcomes is still under investigation, increased parental engagement is generally associated with improved academic performance in children.

By supporting digital learning at home, parents empower their children to unlock opportunities that were once out of reach. Let’s explore this topic further.

Challenges Parents Face

For many parents, supporting digital learning at home goes beyond affording devices or understanding technology — it also involves cultural, generational, and behavioral barriers that shape how technology is used in education. Here are four key challenges:

1. Generational Technology Gaps

Technology is advancing rapidly, and while many of our parents have learned the basics of using smartphones or social media (especially Facebook and WhatsApp), they often struggle to keep up with the advanced digital tools their children use for learning, such as interactive e-learning apps. If parents don’t understand how these tools work, they cannot effectively support or guide their children in using them for education, leading to hesitation in embracing EdTech at home. A study by Afrobarometer across 34 African countries highlights that while smartphone usage is increasing among adults, there remains a significant gap in using complex digital tools, with only 31% of adults digitally literate.

Parents should be encouraged to participate in community-based digital training workshops or learn alongside their children through interactive educational apps. NGOs, schools, and local tech hubs can also provide beginner-friendly EdTech training sessions for parents.

2. Limited Awareness of Digital Safety tools and Parental Controls

Many parents are unaware of online safety tools, which makes them hesitant to introduce digital learning at home. The fear of cyberbullying, online scams, inappropriate content, and data privacy concerns discourages some parents from embracing EdTech. Children who use the internet for learning without proper supervision may accidentally engage with non-educational, unsafe, or misleading content. For example, in South Africa, a 2022 survey revealed that over 95% of children in grades 4 to 11 have regular internet access. However, 77% lack parental controls or filters, and 67% of these children have experienced cyberbullying or unsolicited contact from strangers on social media.

To address this, parents should be introduced to basic digital safety practices, such as using safe browsing modes on devices, setting up parental control filters to restrict non-educational content, and teaching children about cyber hygiene, such as avoiding suspicious links and being cautious about sharing personal information online.

3. Time Constraints and Competing Responsibilities

Even when parents want to be involved in their children’s digital learning, many simply don’t have the time. At least 70% of Sub-Saharan workers are in the informal sector, without a structured 9-to-5 schedule. Some work 60–70 hours a week, leaving little time for active engagement in their children’s education. In addition, for mothers, unpaid labor — such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare takes up significant time, further reducing their ability to monitor digital learning at home.

To mitigate this, parents can integrate digital learning into daily routines — for example, having children practice reading apps or educational games while cooking or cleaning. Community learning groups can also provide peer-supported environments where children help each other when parents are unavailable.

4. Traditional Views on Education and Digital Distractions

In many households, education is still associated with textbooks, handwritten notes, and physical classrooms. Some parents view EdTech as a distraction rather than a learning tool, worrying that excessive screen time will replace real learning. In one way, they are correct. Too much screen time is linked to emotional dysregulation and negatively impacts literacy and mathematics in school-aged children. However, altogether, banning devices prevents many children from accessing valuable digital learning tools, especially self-paced programs like online tutorials and educational apps. Parents should set structured screen time guidelines, distinguishing between learning-based screen time and recreational screen time.

It could be seen as controversial, especially in my line of work, but I am currently in favor of phone-free classrooms. I believe kids can become digitally literate without being constantly bombarded by unsolicited notifications from applications or feeling crushed by everyone’s “curated Instagrammed or Snapchat lavish style.” which makes them believe that they are not “drip” or “slay.” No, some people are not as happy as they pretend to be. Yes, they have challenges, they just hide them very well. And no, you do not need to impress all your social media friends. You cannot satisfy the mob; even God cannot. Geez, focus. What have we done to our children? Okay, that was a rant.

Actionable Steps for Parents

Even with limited resources, time, or prior digital knowledge, parents can take small but meaningful steps to create a supportive digital learning environment at home.

1. Introduce Structured Digital Learning Time

Not all screen time is created equal, and parents can take proactive steps to ensure digital learning remains productive. Setting specific times for educational activities, such as dedicating one hour after school to online courses, reading apps, or skill-building games, can help establish a structured routine. Additionally, minimizing distractions by turning off notifications or blocking non-educational apps during study sessions allows children to focus better and maximize their screen time.

2. Leverage Community and Offline Learning Resources

Parents who cannot afford high-speed internet or expensive devices can still support their children. In Kenya, Eneza Education is an educational platform that uses SMS to provide materials aligned with the local curriculum. It is currently available in Kenya and Cote Ivoire). You can also explore community centers or libraries that may provide free access to digital tools.

3. Learn Together with Your Child

Many parents assume they must be tech experts to support their children in digital learning, but that’s not true! Encouraging children to teach their parents how to use an educational app not only strengthens family bonds but also boosts children’s confidence and gives them bragging rights among their peers. Additionally, setting aside time for collaborative learning, such as researching new topics together or using online language-learning applications, creates an engaging and supportive environment for the entire family.

4. Advocate for More Digital Learning Resources

Join or form parent groups that advocate for free digital literacy training programs in schools and petition local governments for better access to EdTech tools and programs. Keep Kenya Learning is a collaborative initiative led by education organizations from across Kenya to empower caregivers with the essential information and resources they need to support and enhance learning at home. If a similar initiative is created in every country on the continent, we will observe a steep improvement in digital literacy for parents and children alike.

I am writing these last lines a few days before Christmas 2024, after my cousin and I talked with his mom and grandmother. They gently reminded us that it’s time to start thinking about their future grandchildren because they’re not getting any younger.

That got me thinking....our future children (who, by the way, are not coming anytime soon. Sorry, grandma and auntie) may not teach us new things about smartphones and computers, but with the rapid advancement of technology (AI and quantum computing), they will be better digital natives than we have ever been.

But that doesn’t mean we’re off the hook. Our responsibility- now and in the future- is to keep up and guide them through this ever-changing digital world. And what’s the best platform to use to upskill in 2025? IBM SkillsBuild. I am sure my current team would love to have you on board as a learner.