Connectivity as the Foundation
Giga supports governments to connect every school in the world to the internet and every young person to information, opportunity and choice.
Connectivity is the essential first layer of digital inclusion in education. It enables access to online resources, education administration services, and the broader ecosystem of digital tools and content that governments and partners make available to schools and communities. However, connectivity alone does not automatically transform education systems. Without coherent digital architecture, shared standards and secure data flows, connected schools may still rely on fragmented platforms and isolated systems.
Digital transformation of education builds on the foundation of connected schools, extending the value of connectivity into the broader digital systems required for learning and helping countries move from connecting schools to integrating services and strengthening education systems as a whole.
Connectivity is the essential first layer of digital inclusion in education. It enables access to online resources, education administration services, and the broader ecosystem of digital tools and content that governments and partners make available to schools and communities. However, connectivity alone does not automatically transform education systems. Without coherent digital architecture, shared standards and secure data flows, connected schools may still rely on fragmented platforms and isolated systems.
Digital transformation of education builds on the foundation of connected schools, extending the value of connectivity into the broader digital systems required for learning and helping countries move from connecting schools to integrating services and strengthening education systems as a whole.
From Access to Systems
Digital transformation in education is not about introducing more platforms. It is about strengthening how learners, teachers and institutions interact through well-designed digital systems.
Rather than focusing on isolated applications, this approach strengthens the shared digital foundations – interoperability standards, data governance, and secure infrastructure – on which coherent national education systems are built. When systems are interoperable and governed responsibly, connectivity can translate into durable public value.
This systemic perspective is further explored in the paper Building the Case for a Digital Public Infrastructure for Education, which outlines how interoperable digital foundations can reduce fragmentation, improve access, and support inclusive and resilient education systems.
Rather than focusing on isolated applications, this approach strengthens the shared digital foundations – interoperability standards, data governance, and secure infrastructure – on which coherent national education systems are built. When systems are interoperable and governed responsibly, connectivity can translate into durable public value.
This systemic perspective is further explored in the paper Building the Case for a Digital Public Infrastructure for Education, which outlines how interoperable digital foundations can reduce fragmentation, improve access, and support inclusive and resilient education systems.
Advancing Digital Foundations for Connected Schools
In support of Giga, technical guidance and reference materials are made available to help countries strengthen the digital foundations required for systemic digital transformation, enabling interoperable, secure and sustainable systems to make effective use of connected infrastructure.
This work is carried out with international partners and national stakeholders, promoting the exchange of good practices and integration models and encouraging safeguards, privacy and cybersecurity to be embedded by design.
This work is carried out with international partners and national stakeholders, promoting the exchange of good practices and integration models and encouraging safeguards, privacy and cybersecurity to be embedded by design.
How We Work
Strategic Alignment
This work supports governments and partners in aligning digital education initiatives with national education priorities, public digital strategies and wider infrastructure plans. This includes supporting coordination across education, telecommunications, digital government and other relevant sectors, supporting alignment with international reference frameworks such as the UNESCO–UNICEF–ITU Charter for Public Digital Learning Platforms and supporting policy coherence across sectors.
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Technical Guidance
In support of Giga, ITU and partners are developing technical reference materials and architectural guidance to strengthen the design and implementation of interoperable digital education systems. This work focuses on the technical layers that reinforce the value of school connectivity, including open standards and interoperability, system architecture and scalability, data exchange and governance, privacy and cybersecurity, and resilience and long-term maintainability.
This guidance can also inform procurement by helping governments embed interoperability, security and sustainability requirements into technical specifications and supplier agreements, reducing the risk of vendor lock-in and repeated investment in incompatible technologies.
This guidance can also inform procurement by helping governments embed interoperability, security and sustainability requirements into technical specifications and supplier agreements, reducing the risk of vendor lock-in and repeated investment in incompatible technologies.
Demonstration and Knowledge Exchange
Practical examples illustrate how digital foundations operate in education systems, helping countries strengthen institutional capacity and support sustainable and scalable implementation. By converting country experience into practical guidance and reusable documentation, this work supports digital transformation that is both scalable and grounded in real-world needs. This includes collaboration with the Gateways to Public Digital Learning initiative, led by UNESCO and UNICEF, which contributes platform architecture documentation and governance resources that complement this work on connectivity and digital infrastructure.
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From Connectivity to Public Value
The value of school connectivity is realised when it enables learners, teachers and institutions to access services that are reliable, inclusive and connected to the wider education system. By combining universal school connectivity with interoperable, secure and publicly governed digital foundations, countries can build education systems that adapt, integrate new services and deliver sustainable public value over time.
Let’s build a connected future together
