ICT CS lauds Airtel for providing free internet to schools

Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has lauded Airtel for providing free Internet connection to schools through the company’s Free Internet for Schools Program.

Speaking on Wednesday at Machakos Boys High School in Machakos County where he launched the program to connect 23 schools to the free Internet under the program, Mucheru said access to the Internet is very important in the current education system as it gives students the opportunity to have access to an unlimited amount of information available online.

“I am very pleased to be launching this program in Machakos County. I would also like to appreciate the fact that Airtel is making tremendous contributions in the integration of ICT in the Education sector in Kenya through this program,” said the CS.

“In our times, we did not get to use Internet when we were schooling. As the world continues to change, more and more schools all over the world are turning to the Internet for learning resources and that is what the Free Internet for Schools program is about.”

The 23 schools connected to the Internet in Machakos County join another 167 institutions and 250,000 students in 31 counties across Kenya. The program is intended to reach 1 million students in all counties across the country by the end of 2016.

Speaking at the same event, Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi said that the company is committed to the program that it launched in 2014 as it seeks to ensure that more and more students are able to leverage on educational information that the Internet provides.

“The high speed Internet connectivity that we continue to provide through our Airtel Free Internet for Schools program guarantees students limitless new educational opportunities,” he said.

“We strongly believe that through our program, we are giving learners the freedom to connect to the world of information, helping them to learn better and open up a new world of opportunities for their future.”

Present at the launch were Principal Secretaries Eng. Victor Kyalo (ICT & Innovation) and Sammy Itemere (Broadcasting & Telecommunications), Machakos County ICT Minister Hellen Kiilu among other top government and education officials in the county.

By @benjaminwafula