MTN South Sudan has taken a significant step toward bridging the digital divide in one of Africa’s youngest and most challenging education landscapes. On March 11, 2026, the telecom operator signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Educare Organization South Sudan and the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to expand access to digital learning tools and connectivity in schools.
The partnership focuses on three core elements: providing internet connectivity to selected schools, zero-rating educational platforms so students and teachers can access content without incurring data charges, and supporting broader digital inclusion in classrooms. This builds on MTN’s ongoing efforts to leverage its network for social impact in South Sudan, where low internet penetration, limited infrastructure, and conflict-related disruptions have long hindered education delivery.
Educare, a local organization dedicated to education and youth empowerment, brings on-the-ground expertise and existing digital learning initiatives like Junub Academy, an online platform offering free access to educational resources for students and teachers. The MoU integrates MTN’s connectivity strengths with Educare’s content and the ministry’s policy reach, aiming to transform classrooms by enabling modern digital tools.
MTN South Sudan CEO Mapula Bodibe emphasized the company’s commitment during the signing: the agreement will be implemented to benefit learners across all ten states and administrative areas. The ministry’s representatives highlighted ICT as a powerful tool for inclusive education and lifelong learning, aligning with national goals to improve access despite ongoing challenges.
In South Sudan, where over half the population is under 18 and many children remain out of school due to conflict, displacement, and resource constraints, digital solutions like zero-rated platforms can make a real difference. They allow students in remote or underserved areas to access curricula, videos, interactive lessons, and teacher resources without the prohibitive cost of data, critical in a country where mobile money and basic connectivity are already transforming daily life through MTN’s services.
This isn’t MTN’s first education play in the region. The company has previously partnered on ICT hubs (e.g., in Jonglei State with Coursera for free courses) and broader digital skills initiatives. The current MoU feels like a natural evolution: moving from general connectivity to targeted, zero-cost educational access in partnership with local education actors.
The impact on South Sudan’s creative and knowledge economy could be meaningful over time. Better-connected schools mean improved foundational learning, which supports future talent in tech, media, and creative industries, sectors already growing modestly through mobile platforms and youth-driven content. In a nation rebuilding after years of conflict, initiatives like this help lay the groundwork for a more digitally literate generation.
Implementation details are still emerging, specific schools, rollout timeline, and platform integrations, but the partners have committed to collaboration across the country. Success will depend on sustained funding, teacher training, device access, and navigating logistical hurdles in a fragile context.
For now, the MoU stands as a practical example of how telecom operators can partner with government and NGOs to advance education in low-infrastructure settings. If it delivers measurable improvements in learning outcomes, it could become a model for other operators across Africa.
