Govt drops laptops project, adopts a more elitist programme

The one laptop per child project for Kenyan primary schools is no longer feasible and instead the government has opted for a more integrated approach dubbed Digital Literacy Programme.

Announcing the re-branded key flagship project of the Jubilee government, ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said the inter-ministerial secretariat has eighteen months to implement the project.

“In the next 18 months, all the resources, human and financial, will be redirected to make sure the Digital Literacy Project is successful,” said Matiang’i.

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 digital literacy programme governance structure is in place, the three tiers framework consists of an oversight committee comprising of cabinet secretaries, an inter-ministerial committee and a technical implementation team,” added Matiangi.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) chairperson Mudzo Nzili said; “We will support the presidency and the ministry in rolling out the programme.”

According to Matiang’i, the project that intends to churn out tech savvy primary school pupils from all public schools who will compete adequately in the current digital era is anchored on four pillars.

Development of digital content, an undertaking the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development is on already, power supply to schools, where 87% of public schools have already been connected with the remaining schools expected to be connected by December of this year.

The government has also put in place adequate training of teachers on the usage of ICT as well as availability of accessing the digital content through multiple platforms.

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.

Alex Kubasu contributed to this report