leapfrogging technological evolution...

Leapfrogging technological evolution


Rwanda went straight from no phone at all to mobile phones for most people. It happened very fast. Landlines hardly exist here. It was by-passed, leapfrogged. A good thing, as I could not imagine the beautiful hills of Rwanda with telegraphic poles everywhere.
Will we also leapfrog technological evolution in the field of energy? Will Rwanda (at least rural Rwanda) go straight from candles to solar energy? How nice would it be to bypass fossil energies! Maybe the village of Rugerero would even get a mention at the next climate change world leaders conference!
In any case, I am investigating the feasibility of bringing solar panels to the school. This would certainly leapfrog a few stages in the long and arduous history of educational technology!
I am told today by one of the teachers at Rugerero that in the ‘tronc commun’ classes , pupils between the age of 13 and 15 have to learn about IT, but that there is no computer or electricity at the school. Rugerero primary school needs a huge frog, and fast!