Benin officially launches its e-learning platform for public universities
Through the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, Ms Aurélie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, and the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ms Eléonore LADEKAN YAYI, the Government of Benin officially launched the e-learning platform for public universities on Monday 11 May 2020 in the Salle des Actes of the rectorate of the University of Abomey-Calavi, in the presence of the Rector, Mr Maxime DA CRUZ, leaders of student associations and the press.
Designed for the university community (students and lecturers), this e-learning platform will enable students to attend classes remotely by videoconference, to access teaching resources (PDF documents, audio and video content, etc.) free of charge and to study in complete safety without having to travel to lecture halls.
To do so, they will simply need to log on to the platform at https://elearning.etudiant.bj, enter their login details (usernames and passwords, which can be personalised at first login), check their course timetable and then join their classes by videoconference by clicking on a link available on the platform. Classes are recorded on the platform so that students who were unable to attend live can log on and study 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Students who do not have a smartphone or a computer can go to the 40 Community Digital Points, the 24 digital classrooms and the 14 postal multimedia centres set up throughout the country to access classes free of charge.
An online chat support service is also available on the platform so that students can ask their questions and receive assistance where needed. Finally, the platform gives them free access to an email account, available at https://mail.etudiant.bj, which will allow them to send and receive information throughout their studies.
The Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation and her colleague from Higher Education and Scientific Research watched a live demonstration of a class by videoconference, and talked and interacted with students and lecturers from the University of Abomey-Calavi, the National University of Agriculture, the National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics and the University of Parakou.
“We were delighted to see that when problems were raised, solutions followed,” said Mr Maxime DA CRUZ, Rector of the University of Abomey-Calavi. “This is a process of continuous improvement that will be further strengthened in the coming days, weeks and months,” he added.
“We are working to offer a smoother and more user-friendly experience,” said Mr Ouanilo FAGLA MEDEGAN, Director General of the National Information Systems Security Agency, whose teams worked with those of the two ministries concerned on the deployment of this e-learning platform.
The launch of this digital platform reinforces the efforts and measures taken by the Government of His Excellency President Patrice TALON to fight effectively against the spread of the CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, in Benin.