Covid-19 has turned things upside down: e-learning in Bukavu city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), e-learning is a new concept for academic institutions. Covid-19 has reignited the debate about using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within institutions. Technology is evolving exponentially, and Information and Communication Technology-based is now essential in all sectors. During the lockdown, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the educational institution's closure, e-learning became the rule, and face-to-face (in-person) teaching was the exception. Based on qualitative data on information and communication technology use with non-structured interviews in higher institutions in Bukavu, this paper attempts to understand the obstacles to the transition from face-to-face teaching to e-learning during the Covid-19 period. Our results show that many educational institutions lack information and communication technology tools and infrastructures. The Covid-19 pandemic advent brought most educational institutions to stop activities.