By Robert Nyagah
The government has launched a major project to connect all schools in the country to the internet within the next four years.
With the internet connection, the long-awaited access to digital learning could as well be a reality.
But that is not all; ordinary Kenyans, especially the young in both urban and rural parts of Kenya, are being encouraged to take advantage of government-launched free digital technology training courses.
The free training programmes have been launched by the government under the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) in a bid to ensure Kenyans can be familiar with today’s popular, widespread but competitive lucrative online jobs and digital commerce.
The free courses, now in their formative stages, could as well lead to an explosive embrace of digital knowledge among Kenyans through government-sponsored Information and Communication Technology training programmes with an advantage to reach more rural settings.
In Kenyan, digital learning has been a dream that has been slow to become true, right from when the Kibaki-led government promised laptops for all pupils in primary school, and to the Jubilee regime’s attempt to equip schools with tablets.
Perhaps the only time when it emerged that with an effort digital learning could become a reality was at the strike of the pandemic.
That is when after learners across Kenya were sent away from learning institutions but digital innovation actually sent lessons to learners right at the homes.
The only challenge for parents and guardians was to ensure that the learners had laptops, desktops and now smart phones and internet connection.
At the height of the pandemic, availability of internet bundles gained such importance that a survey across the country would as well reveal that even elderly people – sometimes illiterate – came to know the word ‘bundles’. This happened as leading telcos battled to market their packages, a trend that has generally expanded beyond any naysayer’s imagination.
In Kenya and perhaps even globally, both ICT and education experts have identified low digital connection across learning institutions as one of the greatest drawbacks towards access of holistic learning.
In essence, the now guaranteed internet connection to school in Kenya means that the dream of eventually accessing ICT skills for thousands of primary and secondary learners across the country is closer to reality.
According to ICTA acting chief executive, Paul Rono, more than 200 schools are presently enjoying internet connection.
The CEO disclosed that under a major digital master plan already in its third month all information and communication technology programs in learning institutions will be integrated.
Rono clarified that providing internet to every school would enhance wholesome education with learners accessing academic materials and undertaking research projects online.
Teams from the ICTA have moved out of Nairobi and are involved in a major monitoring campaign of the new project to ensure that all will be a success.
“We want to ensure that this project where all schools are set to get connected to the internet is a success,” said Rono, adding “the government had realised that was bound to make learning materials available to our pupils and students”.
The team of experts from the ICTA’s most recent monitoring tour was in Isiolo where the project is ongoing and where major successes have been recorded; an achievement which is bringing smiles to learners and teachers in the sometimes arid region.
Away from schools and under a project which, if well marketed, could attract an overwhelming number of respondents, the ICTA CEO disclosed his organization planned to launch IT courses to Kenyans of all walks of life to ensure they gained relevant skills to access online jobs and business opportunities.
Already, a free registration Citizen Training Portal, was accessible and those interested should hasten to register, the CEO said. Once impacted with the skills, the beneficiaries will be enabled to “apply for jobs online and network with others in other parts of the world.”
