Sankoré refers both to a centuries-old Malian university heritage and a contemporary educational digital ecosystem. The name refers to the Sankoré mosque-university, founded in Timbuktu, which was one of the greatest centers of knowledge in the medieval world. Today, several software projects and platforms bear this name to disseminate educational resources, particularly aimed at the African continent and French-speaking teachers.
Hybrid architecture online and offline for digital education
A challenge rarely addressed by guides dedicated to Sankoré concerns connectivity. In many areas of West Africa, internet access remains intermittent. Recent educational solutions inspired by the Sankoré ecosystem are evolving towards hybrid architectures that operate online and offline.
This model allows a teacher to download a set of educational resources when a connection is available, and then use them in class without a network. Data synchronization (student results, progress) occurs when connectivity is restored.
This approach addresses a field constraint documented by the Sankore Project led by UNESCO, which conducted experiments in Nigeria and Ghana as part of the Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships. Feedback highlights that teacher training and co-design with local communities are crucial for the success of these systems, far beyond mere technical deployment.
To find available information on Sankore and its various aspects, the centralized portal remains the most comprehensive entry point for ongoing projects and downloadable resources.
Open-Sankoré: open-source software for interactive whiteboards
Open-Sankoré is a cross-platform open-source software designed to work with any type of interactive whiteboard (IWB). Initially developed by DIENA in France, its first version dates back to 2003. The latest stable version, Open-Sankoré 3.1, was released in January 2015.
The software is written in C++ with the Qt framework and integrates HTML5 widgets. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it deployable on nearly all existing school computer systems.
Core features of the software
Open-Sankoré combines the tools of a traditional whiteboard (writing, annotation, drawing) with advanced digital functions. The teacher can integrate images, videos, audio files, or animations directly into their presentations.
- Real-time annotation on any type of projected document, with multiple stroke thicknesses and colors
- Import of educational resources in .ubz format, the software’s native format, as well as PDF files, images, and web pages
- Library of interactive HTML5 widgets allowing the creation of exercises (drag-and-drop, quizzes, sorting) without programming skills
- Export of lessons in PDF format or as a video podcast for later distribution to students
The software is designed for primary and middle school teachers, with a deliberately simplified interface. The design goal was for a teacher to be able to prepare an interactive lesson as easily as they would write on a blackboard.
Transition to OpenBoard
The development of Open-Sankoré has gradually been succeeded by OpenBoard, a fork of the software maintained by the Swiss educational community. OpenBoard retains the technical core of Open-Sankoré while offering security updates and compatibility with recent operating systems. For institutions that used Open-Sankoré, the migration to OpenBoard occurs without file loss, as both software share the same document format.
ePrim Sankoré: educational resources created by teachers
The ePrim Sankoré component stands apart from the software itself. It is a portal for educational resources produced directly by teachers for their peers. The principle is based on sharing: a teacher creates an interactive teaching sequence, publishes it on the portal, and others can download, modify, and adapt it to their class.
The content covers primary school cycles with resources in mathematics, French, science, and geography. Each resource is indexed by school level, subject, and targeted skill, making it easier for a teacher pressed for time to prepare lessons.
This collaborative model offers a concrete pedagogical advantage: the sequences are designed by practitioners in the field, not by publishers distant from the reality of a cycle 2 or cycle 3 classroom. The granularity of the content (a concept, an exercise, an assessment) allows for flexible integration into existing pedagogical progressions.
Sankoré School: educational application for Africa
Sankoré School is a mobile application distinct from the previous tools. It positions itself as a virtual tutor for primary and middle school students in Africa. The application uses artificial intelligence to tailor academic support to the needs of each student.
The claimed uniqueness is the alignment of content with local school curricula, rather than European or North American standards. This pedagogical localization remains a differentiating factor compared to major international educational platforms that offer generic content.
The application aims for a simple and accessible interface, designed to work on widely available entry-level smartphones on the continent. The logic aligns with the hybrid architectures mentioned earlier: making educational technology usable where infrastructure is limited.
The Sankoré ecosystem, from open-source software for IWBs to mobile applications and collaborative resource portals, illustrates an approach where educational technology is built around the real constraints of teachers and students, rather than the other way around. The ongoing UNESCO project in Nigeria and Ghana will continue to document the conditions under which these tools produce measurable results on fundamental learning.
