Kenyan mobile phone operator Safaricom last week pledged their support of the Kenyan government’s efforts to provide school pupils with laptops, which is a major focus for the government under their Jubilee regime.
Safaricom Foundation Trustee Nzioka Waita revealed that Safaricom would support the programme through the provision of data services, content development and continuous provision of computers or laptops to schools across Kenya.
“We are not lost to the fact that the government has the laptop for schools programme. We realise that technology and education are mutual hence the need to integrate technology to education curriculum,” Waita added.
However, Senior Deputy Director of Education Margaret Murage noted that there is no use for pupils to have laptops, if the teachers themselves don’t have any, or don’t know how to operate it.
“For this programme to succeed teachers need to be adequately trained in matters of ICT so that the child is not ahead of the teacher. The goal of universal provision of ICT is a key catalyst for the realisation of Vision 2030,” she said.
Kenya’s Ministry of Education announced earlier this year that laptops will be issued to class one students between November and December of this year. “The government is keen on delivering its promise to the pupils… the laptops will be delivered, and the content has been created for them,” added Cabinet Secretary for Education Jacob Kaimenyi.
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
