ICTA Pilots SchoolNet Program

ICT Authority of Kenya (ICTA) has launched the pilot phase of the SchoolNet program targeting 13 public primary and secondary schools to enable learners and teachers to benefit from high-speed internet services. 

According to Amb. Simon Nabukwesi, Principal Secretary (PS) in-charge of University Education and Research, Ministry of Education digital learning and the use of the internet is an integral part in both teaching and learning hence the need for young people to acquire digital knowledge.

He asked teachers to take advantage of the available facilities in their schools to sharpen their IT skills, while teaching students in the country.

While speaking at Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma County, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, Ag. CEO, ICT Authority observed that a countrywide Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) being enabled by the rollout of the country’s National Optic Fiber Backbone (NOFBI) is geared to add value to learning institutions. 

He noted that the connectivity to optic fiber internet in the school will save the schools some money and further give them the opportunity to sell some connectivity to schools. 

"The school has been paying Ksh15,000 for internet which at some point failed to serve the school as required, now the school has obtained high speed internet that will serve the school well," Nabukwesi said.

The Education ministry being the key stakeholder is committed to ensuring learning institutions are supplied with high-speed internet to make learning easier.

“The main aim of my coming is to assess the level of preparedness and utilization of digital devices by the school. So far 62,041 digital devices have been disbursed to various learning institutions to help learners get to know more about the digital world and be updated on current issues,” added the PS.

“The project is aimed at ensuring connectivity in all the 47 Counties to ease communication and improve Government service delivery to the citizens,” Dr. Kipronoh Rono, Ag. Chief Executive Officer ICTA. 

Dr. Ronoh encouraged learners to desist from destructive actions and instead make use of the internet to improve their education.

The Principal, Friends School Kamusinga, Alex Maina was glad that the school is among 13 others which has benefited from the initiative, saying that it has really transformed online operations whereby students can get the latest information.

"The internet has really made teachers work easier. Us teachers and students can now access science practicals online and see how they work," he said.

He added that the school was yet to launch Udhabiti Africa, an initiative by the school alumni whose sole purpose is to link Diaspora students in relation to Kiswahili speaking, saying that the internet will be a game changer towards the active participation in the program as every student will have access to online learning.

Also present at the launch was David Wesonga, Western Region ICT Director who also applauded the governments for the launch of the innovative program saying that internet has also benefited 2,413 schools with digital devices.
Wesonga noted that they have also trained 4,994 ICT teachers in Western region to integrate ICT learning in schools, in addition to laying down 208km of internet across the region.