Jubilee government’s laptop project pilot to start in 150 schools

A pupil at Tipet Primary School in Kapenguria West Pokot County tries his hand on a laptop.

NAIROBI: One of Jubilee government promises given during the 2013 General Election is close to fruition. The laptop for schools promise now called the Digital Literacy Programme Thursday moved a milestone after the ICT authority gave a green light to two bidders to go ahead and proof their concepts in 150 schools across the country.

The winner consortia comprised of two Public Universities. The consortium of Moi University and JP SA Couto emerged the winner in two of the three available lots, whereas that of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and Positivo BGH came second.

The successful bidders were announced after an evaluation process of eight suppliers who had submitted their tender responses in January, 2016 for the supply, installation and commissioning of the Digital Learning Solution for the 22,000 public primary schools.

The Digital Literacy Programme is being implemented through a multi-agency approach that consists of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Industrialization & Enterprise Development, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, The National Treasury and the Office of the Attorney General. The ICT Authority is the lead implementing agency for the programme.

Other agencies include The Teacher Service Commission (TSC), Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Rural Electrification Authority (REA), Kenya Power, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA).