Goodies for Meru school as children receive free computers

Even as the government dropped the one laptop per child project for Kenyan primary schools and opted for a more integrated approach dubbed Digital Literacy Programme, very little has been done to kick start the project with many public schools still awaiting power connectivity.

However, for K.K. Lumbi Primary School in Meru County, the dream of having a computer lab came true on Monday when Style Industries (Darling Kenya) donated computers to facilitate ICT integration into their learning programme.

The computers, according to Darling Kenya Head of Marketing Francis Baariu, will serve the purpose of introducing the learners to computer integrated learning that is essential in the modern education system.

“We are looking at this initiative as a way of helping schools introduce and facilitate computer studies in schools since it is now an integral part of modern day learning,” said Mr. Baariu.

“This computer lab is a re-affirmation that we, as corporates, are also committed to ensuring that schools get sufficient equipment needed for computer studies.”

According to Meru County Women Representative Florence Kajuju, who was the guest of honour, the project will go a long way in supplementing the government’s efforts in introducing and creating E-learning centres.

“This is a good gesture by the corporate world. What Darling is doing is great and as the Meru community we appreciate.”

She added; “Apart from taking care of the beauty of the woman, Darling Kenya is also taking care of the welfare of the children through such initiatives such as the donation of these computers and computer lab.”

She pointed out that she will be partnering with the organization to ensure such initiatives are well received and promoted across the country.

Late last month, ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the inter-ministerial secretariat has eighteen months to implement the e-learning project.

The programme, a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta, will be steered by a full-time inter-ministerial secretariat encompassing six ministries and stakeholders in the education sector.

The ministry of ICT will provide leadership within the implementation framework, while the ICT Authority oversees the technical matters with regard to design, co-creation, selection and procurement.

Treasury CS Henry Rotich allocated 17 billion shillings in the current financial year to implement the purchase of the computing devices. The office of the Attorney General will handle all contractual and legal issues of the project.