Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has said there is need to protect children from harmful content as Internet connectivity is enhanced in schools.
Speaking during the launch of a report about, ‘Internet connectivity to schools,’ the PS acknowledged that Internet connectivity creates better and more effective ways of learning by ensuring availability of more electronic books, interactive content and virtual learning materials.
However, it also comes with risks and dangers where Internet service providers, regulators and technology experts are obliged to find ways in which children are protected.
“Let us get ways that we will be able to protect our children from being exposed to sites that are not good for them,” said Kipsang.
PS Kipsang further urged all stakeholders to be supportive in not only ensuring child online protection is optimized but also allow continuous use of affordable internet.
The report which he launched documents experiences and lessons learnt from ‘Digischool’ project in Kenya which found out that the internet enhances access to and equality of education for learners in rural areas, particularly girls and those with disabilities.
According to the report, 98 percent of learners indicated that the internet met their needs, while schools reported saving Ksh120, 000 for mobile data bundles.
Furthermore, 84 percent of learners said that the Internet makes learning more exciting, 71 percent said it makes complex ideas easier to understand; 54 percent said it makes learning more engaging; 23 percent said it makes learning more fun; and 13 percent said it increases class attendance.
The Digischool project was undertaken in 13 schools connected to the Internet through National Optic Fibre Network Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI).
It was undertaken in collaboration with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority and the Ministry of Education in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Hauwei in 2021.
By Thuita Jaswant
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