More often than not, EdTech solutions are designed to improve learning outcomes and, in some cases, enhance teaching. In the African context, however, most EdTech solutions have primarily been user-centric, designed to assist learners by addressing challenges such as the shortage of teachers, inadequate learning materials, limited laboratories, and insufficient STEM equipment for practical learning. These are some of the most common barriers to accessing quality education in Africa, and innovators have focused their solutions on tackling these typical challenges.

As EdTech continues to grow rapidly across the continent, it has become increasingly clear that while these solutions address pressing systemic issues, they are often developed without considering the needs of people with disabilities. As a result, many solutions remain inaccessible, leaving this critical group of learners and educators behind.

Recognizing this gap, development partners like the Mastercard Foundation, through the EdTech Fellowship Program, have made inclusion a top priority. The initiative ensures that EdTech companies participating in the Fellowship intentionally design their solutions with accessibility in mind.

This focus on inclusion has catalyzed EdTech innovators to go back to the drawing board and refine their solutions to cater to people with disabilities and, in many cases, co-creating with them from the design stage to ensure solutions respond to real-world challenges faced both in teaching and learning.

One year into the implementation of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Tanzania, by Sahara Consult, the impact is being realized. InfoTaaluma, one of the EdTech startups accelerated through the first cohort of the Fellowship in 2024, has embedded inclusive features to accommodate teachers with disabilities. Through InfoTaaluma's platform, teachers with disability are now able to engage with AI voice-to-voice features designed primarily for visually impaired teachers, enabling them to access data, manage class records, and communicate with parents independently.

“As we continue to advance, it is our goal to extend similar accessibility solutions to teachers who are visually impaired and those who are hearing impaired, including the integration of Braille-compatible tablets and other adaptive tools ensuring every teacher, regardless of ability, can actively participate in digital education transformation”, said Infotaaluma Co-Founder, Justine Alkardo Makoloka.

While many physical barriers remain in schools, such as limited ramps, handrails, accessible toilets, and adapted furniture, InfoTaaluma is helping teachers overcome some of these challenges by providing digital solutions that restore independence and confidence, ensuring they are not left behind in the digital transformation of education.

Teachers with disabilities have also faced attitudinal and institutional challenges, including low expectations, a lack of disability awareness among school leaders, and minimal inclusion in training programs. InfoTaaluma's approach is beginning to shift this narrative by empowering these teachers to use technology effectively, demonstrating that disability does not limit capability.

This progress marks a systemic shift: schools are becoming more inclusive in their digital practices, teachers with disabilities are increasingly taking active roles in managing and innovating within their classrooms, and learners are benefiting from a more equitable and empowered teaching environment. As the platform evolves, InfoTaaluma aims to expand accessibility further through Braille-compatible tablets and assistive tools for hearing-impaired teachers, continuing to build a more inclusive education ecosystem for all.

To advance this vision, InfoTaaluma recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tanzania Teachers' Union (TTU) - Disabled Teachers Department, with the aim of transforming how teachers with disabilities navigate their work. The partnership focuses on reducing administrative burdens while making teaching resources more accessible and effective through the InfoTaaluma School Management System.

Importantly, the vision extends beyond supporting teachers with disabilities, the ultimate goal is to ensure that students with disabilities receive the quality education and support they deserve.

Through the MoU with TTU's Disabled Teachers Department, InfoTaaluma is spearheading several initiatives including:

• Inclusive platform deployment: Piloting a customized School Management System in schools that serve teachers with disabilities, integrating assistive features such as screen reader compatibility, audio navigation, adjustable fonts, and high-contrast modes.
• Capacity building: Designing and delivering targeted training for teachers with disabilities, school leaders, and education officers on digital literacy, assistive technology, and inclusive pedagogy.
• Data-driven learning: Collecting insights from platform usage, teacher engagement, and student performance to guide continuous improvement and inform inclusive policy recommendations.
• Accessible content development: Creating Braille-ready materials, audio lessons, and other inclusive resources aligned with the national curriculum.
• Policy advocacy & resource mobilization: Collaborating with stakeholders to push for inclusive digital education policies and secure sustainable funding.
• Scaling for impact: Developing a roadmap to expand the program to more schools and communities nationwide.

This collaboration is more than a milestone for InfoTaaluma, it goes to show that inclusive education is not optional; it is essential. By combining innovative technology with stakeholder collaboration, InfoTaaluma is proving that barriers to learning can be dismantled, one solution at a time.

Speaking of the contribution of the Fellowship towards making the EdTech solution more inclusive, the Co-Founder said, “We remain committed to build an inclusive digital learning environment where no teacher or students is left behind”

Since receiving support through the Fellowship, the EdTech startup has worked tirelessly to refine its solutions and forge new partnerships that push the boundaries of what is possible in education.

“We are beyond proud to see our alumni stepping into leadership roles that create real, lasting change. Partnerships like these reaffirm our belief that when the right minds and hearts come together, the ripple effect can transform an entire sector,” Kauthar Masoud, Project Manager (Tanzania), Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.