Guinea’s digital leap: 2,200 schools to get online by 2026 🇬🇳🌐

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The Guinean government has launched an ambitious program to bring internet access to more than 2,200 public primary schools by the end of 2026. The initiative is part of GIGA, a global project led jointly by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNICEF, aimed at ensuring every child has equitable access to the digital world.

A major step toward connected education 🎓

So far, around 600 schools across the country are already equipped for stable and secure internet connections. Authorities plan to connect 1,000 more schools by late 2025, reaching over one million students nationwide.

This new connectivity will give teachers and students access to a vast library of digital learning resources — paving the way for more interactive and inclusive education.

According to Jean Paul Cédy, Guinea’s Minister of Pre-University Education and Literacy, the project marks the start of a “new educational era” for the country. It aims to promote digital equity, open Guinean classrooms to the world, and help address the teacher shortage.

“The teacher of yesterday will not be the teacher of tomorrow,” he said. “They will evolve, learn, and transform — as our education system adapts to the digital age.”

Part of the “Simandou 2040” vision 🚀

The connectivity project is part of Guinea’s national digital education roadmap, launched in 2021 to make ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) key drivers of innovation and quality in teaching.

Aligned with this mission, the Simandou Academy initiative — tied to the country’s long-term vision, “Simandou 2040” — promotes a digital, inclusive, and innovation-driven education ecosystem.

Former Education Minister Mamadou Alpha Bano Barry has long argued that digital transformation is a vital pedagogical tool. He envisions a system where lessons, assignments, grades, and textbooks coexist on a single online platform. Virtual discussion groups could link Guinean students with peers across Africa and beyond — while parents gain real-time access to their children’s academic progress.

By investing in school connectivity, Guinea hopes to bridge the digital divide and empower its youth to fully participate in the knowledge economy. Supported by the United Nations, the initiative signals a bold national commitment to building a tech-ready generation.

For the government, this marks a decisive step toward the “connected and inclusive” Guinean school of the future.

👉🏾 Do you believe digital connectivity can truly help close Africa’s education gap?