By Augustine Oduor
Kenya: Secondary school heads want the Government to invest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration in their institutions.
They said with the introduction of free laptops for Standard One pupils starting next year, there is need to also empower secondary schools in readiness for the enlightened pupils when they join Form One.
The teachers said through capacity building programmes, all secondary school teachers should be given a chance to be technology savvy.
“It should not be assumed that all secondary school teachers are ICT compliant. They too need to be refreshed on these skills,” said Rosemary Saina of Kenya High School. “We must prepare for them in time.”
Director, Secondary and Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education Robert Masese said recruitment of teachers in future will lay emphasis on ICT compliance. “Teachers who want to be hired must be ICT savvy because that is where we are heading now,” he said.
Cut costs
Meanwhile, secondary school principals have been urged to take insurance cover for their students to help them cut costs in the event of an emergency.
Masese also advised the heads to consider insuring key assets of the school. “I strongly advise that you take medical cover for your students to mitigate the impact of unforeseen things,” he said.
He gave an account of his days at Nairobi School when one of the students dislocated his jaw during a sports competition. He was the school principal in 2007.
“The hospital asked me to pay Sh500,000 but because he was on medical cover it was an easy affair,” he said.
While speaking on Secondary Schools and Devolution Management, Masese asked principals to learn how to delegate some of the duties in the spirit of sharing responsibilities.
