Sh700m initiative to take learning hi-tech

By Fredrick Obura

A partnership between the Government and donors has initiated a Sh700 million project to digitalise education.

The three-year project involves deploying computers for students and teachers along with the wireless infrastructure, Internet connectivity and access to digital education content.

Students from rural schools will particular benefit from sharing learning materials with top schools.

Kimani M’nkanatha, Education acting Director of Policy and Planning says digital technology may alleviate the effects of teachers shortage. "Teachers and students will access learning materials online and video may be shared among schools," says Intel Corporation principal architect Robert Fogel.

 At the completion of the initiative next year, 6,000 personal computers for students, 120 laptops for teachers, 60 servers and supporting wireless infrastructure will have been deployed. "We are focusing on 40 secondary and 20 primary schools and we will train about 2,000 teachers in schools and another 5,000 at teachers training colleges," says Fogel.

The Ministry for Education will select the schools. The project dubbed: A celebrating 21st Century Education aligns closely with the goals of the ministry, which is digitising its school curricula with an initial focus on maths and science subjects for Standard Four and Five and the first two years of secondary education. "Successfully deploying the technology will help young people participate effectively in the global knowledge economy," said M’nkanatha.

The project is expected to directly benefit about 39,000 students and 7,000 teachers through improved educational infrastructure and training. Computer giants Cisco, Intel and Microsoft will provide resources, engineering expertise and know-how. Intel will also training for teachers through its teach program. The Cisco networking academy will train two instructors and one network administrator for each of the selected schools. The ministry will work with Intel to localise content and with Microsoft to develop a new education portal where teachers can access online educational content and electronic mail. The computer companies will also establish Technology Innovation Centre (STIC) in Nairobi, which will be dedicated to research and serve as a repository for educational technology. "We hope this collaboration improve student enrolment and enhance professionalism school in administration," says Erna Kerst The United States Agency for International Development Kenya Mission Director. The organisation is also supporting the project.

 

 

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