Kenyan teachers trained ahead of laptop project rollout

Some 100 primary school teachers are being trained at Moi University in preparation for the rollout of laptop project for pupils.

Officials from the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission and Moi University yesterday officially launched the one-week training session ahead of implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP).

Moi University is one of the institutions that won two lots of the three tenders by the Government to supply, install and commission the laptop project in 26 counties in partnership with JP Cousto Company from Portugal.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agricultural Technology got one slot and will implement the programme in 21 counties.

Director of Partnerships, Innovation and Capacity Eunice Kariuki said the teachers' training programme was a great milestone in the delivery of DLP popularly referred to as the laptops project.

"We believe after the session, they (teachers) will be ready to handle the gadgets that will be distributed to implement this programme," said Ms Kariuki.

According to Kariuki, the laptops have Standard One digital content developed by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development which was launched in December 2015.

"We are concluding on the tendering process. Last term four schools received the laptops and 146 more will get them when they reopen for second term. The computers for the pilot programme will be delivered by June this year as we look forward to full procurement and supply," she said.

Michael Kahiti, chief economist in the Ministry of Education, said the commencement of teachers' training was important because technology is just a tool and needs trainers to make it relevant.

"We don't expect more challenges going forward," said Kahiti.