Kenya’s leading mobile operator Safaricom has given its support to the government’s one laptop per pupil initiative through its foundation.
Corporate affairs director and Safaricom Foundation trustee Nzioka Waita was speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday when he said the support would be through provision of data services, content development and continuous provision of computers or laptops to schools across the country.
Waita said: “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.”
HumanIPO reported earlier today the laptop policy could be delayed by a petition to the High Court by the Green Hand Organization claiming it will have a detrimental effect on the environment.
Nzioka added that in order for the initiative to be a success the project needs public-private partnerships and highlighted Safaricom’s donation of more than 2,300 computers to schools since 2003.
Margaret Murage, the government’s senior deputy director of education, said the government is piloting the project in parts of Coast, North Eastern and Kisumu, including the training of teachers.
“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,” she said.
“The goal of universal provision of ICT is a key catalyst for the realisation of Vision 2030.”
The Ministry of Education has announced that it will issue laptops to class one students between November and December this year.
HumanIPO reported yesterday the government had already prioritised the schools which are ready to receive the first batch of laptops.
