Pupils in Turkana get tablets in digital learning programme
Class One pupils at St Monica Lodwar Girls Primary School in Turkana display the tablets they received in the ongoing digital literacy programme recently rolled out by the government. PHOTO | SAMMY LUTTA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The laptops were installed by a consortium from Moi University.
- Sister Veronica Ogot, the headteacher of St Monica, said the school also received two laptops for teachers.
- She said the project will greatly contribute to the retention of children in schools.
- Turkana County has a total of 36, 845 pupils in Class One.
It was all smiles for 149 Class One pupils at St Monica Lodwar Girls Primary School in Turkana Central Sub-County on Monday as they became the first in the county to receive a tablet each as part of the digital literacy programme.
On Tuesday and Wednesday they will be followed by their counterparts in Nalemsekon Primary School in Turkana South and Kakuma Girls Primary School in Turkana West Sub-County who will also receive the gadgets promised by Jubilee in the run-up to the 2013 elections.
The three schools are among 150 urban, peri-urban and rural schools selected for the pilot project as the government plans to fully implement the flagship project to all the 22,000 public primary schools in the country by the end of the year.
Sister Veronica Ogot, the headteacher of St Monica, said the school also received two laptops for teachers.
She said the school, started in the 1980s, has a population of 1,500 pupils, noting that the project would greatly contribute to the retention of children in schools.
The laptops were installed by a consortium from Moi University.
NO LONGER MARGINALISED
Turkana County Director of Education Nelson Sifuna said gone were the days when marginalised areas like Turkana were left behind, noting that the laptop project was a true reflection that all children in Kenya were are and are in a position to effectively compete.
Mr Sifuna urged security officials to be alert and ensure that the gadgets are not stolen by intensifying their patrols. He also urged schools to improve security around computer rooms.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) County Secretary Tony Nasia said ICT was a major government achievement that will be enjoyed by learners.
He, however, asked the government to now motivate teachers by giving that a salary increase.
Turkana County has a total of 36,845 pupils in Class One.
According to education stakeholders, enrolment is expected to go up as more learners are motivated to go to school by the digital learning programme.
