The Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) has delivered and installed devices to an initial four (4) primary schools in different parts of the country. This comes just weeks after ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, unveiled the devices that will be used by primary teachers and pupils in the Digital literacy program in the country.
The devices were unveiled at the Connected Summit 2016 that was held in Diani Mombasa last month.
The devices have been delivered to four schools namley Sparki Primary School in Mombasa, Hill (Primary) School in Eldoret, Katheka AIC Primary School in Machakos and Ilbissil Boarding Primary School in Kajiado. The delivery according to the government is part of the fulfillment of the Proof of Concept stage that will have 150 public primary schools selected to act as a test bed for the full programme implementation.
The government adds that the schools which have been supplied with all the necessary devices will act as a learning template for the contractors as they roll out to the remaining 146 when schools reopen in May.
“We have been able to take in lessons as we have interacted with the schools, communities and the contractors. What is positive about delivering to the four schools is that we will have an opportunity to interact with the schools and note any impediment, rectify it and perfect our efficiency as we look into completing all POC schools and also rolling out to 22,000 schools,” Robert Mugo, the Acting CEO of the ICT Authority and the Digischool technical committee chair said.
During the one month long school holidays the programme will also embark on various activities key among them being a robust teacher training. The programme through the Teacher Service Commission will also be training 300 teachers from pilot schools from the week of 18th April 2016 at the specially equipped contractors’ lab centres in Juja, Eldoret and Mombasa. This training according to the government is meant to equip the teachers with added skills to be able to fully run the digital programme.
“We will be creating a classroom environment in the labs and each teacher will be equipped with a device. We also plan to harmonise the digital learning curriculum at the training,” John Temba a Director in the Ministry of Education Science and Technology adds.
The POC is being implemented through the two contractors which are the consortium of Moi University and JP Couto, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Positivo BGH. Moi University will cover 26 counties, while Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology will cover 21 counties.
In addition schools will be supplied with a router, server, and projector and for Special Schools they will receive a special learners laptop and an embosser.
