State launches ICT monitoring centre for schools

By Fredrick Obura

 

The Government has launched a laboratory in Nairobi for testing of modern technology in schools.

The National Innovation and Integration Centre hosted at the Kenya Science College in Nairobi would help Ministry of Education test and approve various ICT tools before adoption in school curriculum.

Speaking during the launch, Education Minister Sam Ongeri said the multi-million facility would help speed up the adoption of technology in learning and also address teacher deficit now standing at 75,000.

“We have several innovations geared towards education sector. These Internet-based solutions are capable of helping us address quality, and teachers shortage in our institutions,” said Prof Ongeri.

“We want the innovation centre to be used by teachers, investors in education and students to improve education through Information and Communication Technology,” he added.

Centre equipped

The centre established with the help of Belgium Federal Government is expected to provide guidance to education managers on ICT innovations and integration aspects.

The main training centre has a 40-seat computer lab fully equipped with computers, and two additional 20-seat labs fully equipped computers.

The computers are running on Windows operating system licensed by the Ministry of Education.

A modern server room hosts the National Education Portal for teachers, the NI3C website and the National Helpdesk site as well as a number of applications.

The facility has a resource centre to support research and development related works.

Ongeri expressed his mission to see all Kenyan children accessing equal education, as well as a gender balance in the schools.

 

Moderation role

 

He expects ICT to boost the quality of teaching and learning in the schools.

“ICT in education is not all about the technology, but about the teaching and learning process. This centre provides a great opportunity for teachers to interact with other teachers from across the world and share knowledge,” he says.

Education Secretary George Godia said the National Innovation and Integration Centre would now help the ministry moderate various innovations for the benefit of learners and teachers.

“The centre will, in particular, offer opportunities for new technologies to be tested and demonstrated before dissemination to schools,” he said.

Godia said the centre based at Kenya Science College would be used to develop and showcase different solutions and scenarios in the deployment of ICT integration at the school level.

It would also be used in the provision of advice to education managers on ICT innovations and integration aspects referred to the centre.