Educational Technology Solutions for Remote Learning in Rural Senegal: A GIS-Applied Approach

The rapid urbanization in Senegal has led to a significant population shift from rural to urban areas, resulting in an education system that struggles to maintain educational standards in remote regions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining GIS-based spatial analysis with surveys of educators and students. A total of 120 rural schools were selected for a pilot project, with data collection conducted in two phases over one academic year. GIS-assisted mapping revealed that approximately 45% of the surveyed schools lacked essential infrastructure such as electricity and internet connectivity, which significantly impacted remote learning outcomes. Analysis also indicated that students who used EdTech tools had a 20% higher retention rate compared to those without access. The study concluded that integrated GIS-based solutions are crucial for enhancing educational accessibility in rural Senegal, particularly in terms of infrastructure and connectivity challenges. Policy makers should prioritise investments in digital infrastructure to support remote learning initiatives. Additionally, continuous professional development programmes for educators are essential to maximise the effectiveness of EdTech tools. Model estimation used θ̂=argminθ∑ᵢ(yᵢ,f_θ(xᵢ))+λθ₂², with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.