A glimpse into the future of technology

By Harold Ayodo

On a Monday afternoon at Nairobi’s Moi Educational Centre Waiganjo Chege, nine, is producing a movie on a computer.

The Standard Four pupil is using Microsoft computer software to create characters in his action thriller. "It is more fun than computer games," he says.

He learnt the art of movie making during a tour of Microsoft headquarters in Seattle, Washington, last month together with 19 other members of the school’s computer club.

The school participates in Partners in Learning, an element of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential programme that promotes technology.

Microsoft East and Southern Africa Education Program Manager Mark Matunga says the visit to Microsoft headquarters was a first by a school from outside the US.

As they boarded a KLM flight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on February 10, the pupils were excited. They did not even take naps during the long flight and spent most of the time talking about their expectations.

During the eight-day visit, the pupils attended the company's Minority Student Day, becoming the first international students to do so and also toured Boeing, the Experience Music Project, and primary and secondary schools in Seattle. "We were impressed. We have 40 computers for 1,400 pupils but every student had one in the schools we vistied," says Roy Kitur, 13.

And the visiting students, too, got to have a computer to themselves in a Microsoft classroom, where they attended technology classes from 7am to 4pm and meetings with employees. "We lived, ate and slept computers … The instructors were easy to mingle with. IT is the future…I want to be a physicist and computers are a pillar to my success," says Kitur.

He is now proficient in Microsoft Publisher, Word and Office.

Chege, the youngest pupil on the trip no longer bothers his parents to buy him computer games. "I learnt how to make computer games using the Microsoft Pop Fly Software Programme and I have created some for my friends," says Chege, who wants to be a computer expert and pilot.

Diana Kimuyu says the tour opened her eyes to technology ‘s potential. "I can now use the latest computer software to design, and produce music and movies," she says.

Computer obsession

The school Principal Philemon Chebii, head of IT Florence Masambu, computer club patron Polycarp Imbayi and teacher Eunice Njeri, who accompanied the pupils, say since their return they have used every opportunity to teach their schoolmates what they learnt..

Several walls in the school are adorned by glossy calendars that the computer club designed after their trip.

The pupils are so obsessed with their computers that teachers have to eject them from the laboratory during break and lunch hour.

Started three years ago, the computer club membership has reached 150 pupils and more want to enrol.

"The trip created a lot of excitement and interest in computers. Even parents have got in on the act lobby for their children to be admitted in the club," Masambu says.

The club meets every Thursday evening for an hour but has since been forced add time over the weekends.

Tender age

"The pupils learnt a lot which they will put into practice overtime," she says.

Chebii says the school has now introduced computer lesson to kindergarten pupils.

Matunga says the software giant encourages schools to embrace ICT. "We are committed to working with the Government to ensure skills of the 21st Century are imparted to pupils at a tender age," he says.

"We got overwhelming support from parents who paid Sh200,000 each as airfare for their children," Chebii says.

Microsoft footed the other costs.

The visit created some much excitement that The Seattle Times carried a story about it.

Matunga says the world is now a global village and students must embrace IT to compete internationally.

"Most companies today outsource jobs that would benefit only the IT literate," he says.

He says the tour was just one of the company’s interventions to promote IT in schools.

"We signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education for public schools to have free access to software from Microsoft recently," he says.