Education, ICT Experts warn State over free laptops

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

KENYA: The Government could be headed for tougher times as it plans to implement the laptop-for-class-one project starting January next year.

Various education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts have proposed the Ministry of Education should consider equipping schools with computer laboratories to cut costs.

They say a well-equipped computer room would serve the entire school population and not just Standard One pupils as each class would have a computer lessons.

Others also suggested that cheaper computers could be developed or procured and that the machines would be operated from one centralised computer.

Basic infrastructure

“With this, it would be easy to control the content from one central server and also avoid cases where some pupils may access wrong information,” said Edith Ofwona, an IT expert and senior programme specialist with Canada’s International Development Research Centre.

She said the ministry should consult widely to develop a robust programme that will add value to the learning process.

The expert said ahead of the rollout, the Government must put in place the right minimum basic infrastructure such as electricity supply.

But most importantly, Ms Ofwona said, the right multimedia curriculum content must be developed lest the huge investment goes to waste.

“There is scientific evidence that with the right content, performance of young children using ICT improves performance by about 30 per cent,” she said.

Prof Ben Sihanya of the University of Nairobi termed the project economically unsustainable and politically wrong.

He said ICT is an important learning tool but noted that under article 21 and 24 of the Constitution, there was need to work based on priorities.

“There are schools without adequate number of classrooms, books and even teachers. But to roll out such a programme we must have proper infrastructure and the right digital content,” he said.

Need for consultation

Educationist Sara Ruto termed the project as unfortunate.

She said even with the increasing ICT creativity, the Ministry of Education seems not to have made any efforts to consult.

“We should not limit the talk to youth groups. The ministry must open the forum to involve curriculum developers, ICT experts and donors,” she said.

Also faulted is the security arrangement the State has proposed for the devices.

The ministry has said it would transfer security of the laptops to children and parents to cut implementation cost.

He said parents must not be used to cut implementation cost.

Ms Ruto said the book- for-schools project has seen many books locked up in shelves just to keep them safe.