Laptop program to cover private schools, says CS Matiangi

KIAMBU, KENYA: Pupils from both public and private schools will benefit from the free laptop project that has been rolled out by the government, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has said.

Matiang'i said the programme, which has been rolled out in three schools in each county, would be in full momentum by the end of the year.

Matiang'i officiated the launch of digital literacy programme at Kiambu Township Primary School where 212 standard one pupils benefited from the project.

Kiambu township Primary School is among 150 public primary schools identified for piloting of the management and delivery of curriculum on an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform programme.

Matiang'i said the government had selected three schools from each of the 47 counties and an additional nine schools with special needsfor the implementation of the project by end of May, and the full realisation to all public primary schools by end of the year.

Matiang'i said that the government is working with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and has set aside Sh200million in the 2015/2106 financial year to build an education cloud for education content to be accessed on smart phones, tablets, computers and Television sets.

The CS, said a further Sh200million has been set aside to assist in inducting and training teachers on digital platform.

"This is a huge milestone for the country and I thank all the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to make this happen," the CS said adding that the development of the digital content and curriculum for teacher training will enable Kenya to deliver education on the 21st century platform and turn kids into global citizens.