Govt launches interactive digital classroom programme in Meru County

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu and her Forestry counterpart Gitonga Mugambi said the programme would allow learners from different schools and counties to share the same platform, be taught by the same teacher and access the same learning resources.

The duo lauded President William Ruto and education stakeholders for initiating the programme, which is meant to ensure all Kenyan learners benefit regardless of where they are studying.

They spoke at Meru Primary Comprehensive School in Meru town, where they revealed that the launch would cover the entire Eastern region of the country.

“The interactive smart board digital launch at Meru Comprehensive School will cover all junior schools in the Eastern region. The interactive smart board digital platform helps learners to interact with other counties countrywide. They are able to enjoy digital skills from the same lesson and enhance their digital skills, specifically as part of building their digital superhighway,” said PS Njogu.

The Diaspora Affairs PS said they were working with the ICT Authority, Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to ensure the programme succeeds and urged Kenyans to support the initiative.

She challenged learners to take advantage of digital learning to improve their digital skills, which are in high demand in Kenya and abroad, noting that such interaction among learners from different counties and communities was unprecedented in the country.

“Today we were able to enjoy a digital classroom at Meru Comprehensive School that was interactive at the same time in Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni and Embu counties. We were able to enjoy Fasihi ya Kiswahili, shared YouTube videos and interacted with learners from different counties. This is a nice level of learning in digital skills and capacity building in our schools and communities,” said the Diaspora Affairs PS.

The Diaspora Affairs PS said more than 350 of the 700 junior schools in Meru County had already benefited from the initiative following the rollout of the programme and equipment.

She said the programme was ongoing, with more than 60,000 teachers being trained to deliver digital lessons.

“The teachers trained will deploy the equipment and internet connectivity to the junior schools in the county. Over 350 out of the 700 junior schools in Meru County have already benefited from the initiative after they got the programme and equipment rolled out. The interactive boards will also allow learners to view YouTube. It is capacity building for both teachers and learners, with the equipment set to be rolled out in all schools,” emphasised the PS.

She said the programme was being rolled out countrywide, with Meru Primary Comprehensive School selected to host the regional launch, noting that the number of teachers trained was sufficient to cater for the country.

PS Njogu said the programme prepares learners to become global citizens capable of working anywhere in the world through improved digital skills.

On his part, Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi said the programme was meant to equalise learning opportunities for learners countrywide, regardless of where they come from in Kenya.

He said a learner in South Imenti Constituency and another in Meru town should be able to share the same platform, be taught by the same teacher and access the same learning resources as others across Kenya.

“The government is preparing and equipping learners to face the challenges of the future world. They will now become global citizens capable of exporting skills or working in any part of the world,” said PS Mugambi.

He said the programme was similar to the Kazi Majuu initiative since it focuses on what the government is doing to prepare Kenyans for employment opportunities globally.

The Forestry PS lauded a teacher at Meru Primary Comprehensive School who pioneered the rollout of the programme.

“Today we were lucky to interact with schools and learners in other counties. We were very excited and happy as the Meru Primary Comprehensive School teacher took over and taught. This teacher comes from this school. He was able to teach them at the same time, and hence it was a good experience,” said PS Mugambi.