3

November 06, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke NEWSFOCUS | 3 After Digital Literacy Programme rollout, ‘smart classroom’ This will enable collaborative learning, creativity and practical skills as witnessed in other parts of the world leading in this space BY LILIAN KIMETO D uring the recently concluded Connected Summit, on 22-24th October 2018 at the Bomas of Kenya, stakeholders in the country’s ICT and education sector agreed that greatest challenge facing the adoption of technology in education is the lack of right content/ competency-based curriculum and inadequate digital learning devices. Other issues that were noted were internet connectivity to public primary schools for accessing online learning materials and inaccessible regions in country due to bad weather and the need to train teachers first then the special groups in handling the digital devices. Another key issue identified was the need for correct setting of guidelines to avoid confusing parents when introducing something new. It is for this reason that there is need to crack how ICT can be used to enable the successful delivery of digital schooling in Kenya. It noteworthy that investment in technology by business entrepreneurs is no longer about the cost and immediate outcome but rather the risk of not investing in it which is a big threat to their survival. Kenya is seen globally as the most responsive state when it comes to development of human capital for the 21st century digital economy through the massive investment in Digital Literacy Programme (DLP). The main objective of DLP is to integrate technology in teaching and learning as early as primary schools level. What is the ‘Kenya Approach’? The Kenya approach is a Multi Agency approach where all stakeholders involved in the Programme came together under one coordinating agency (ICT Authority) in charge of technology. The main agencies driving the Programme being Ministry of Education (the user), Ministry of ICT (Lead Coordinator), Ministry of Energy (for electrification of schools), Ministry of Industrialisation (for development of local electronic assembly plants) ICT Authority (main implementer), Teacher Service Commission (for teacher capacity), Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (for content development) and The National Treasury. The Programme is among the very few programmes which is seen to have brought equity and fairness to the country when it comes to education. This will also ensure that the country get the required skills for the 21st digital economy. The 10 Programme Success points The size and complexity of the Programme called for thorough checks at each critical stage in order to ensure that over 21,731 Primary schools are served well with over 1,083,827 digital devices as contracted and delivered. To guard the programme against project failure and financial lost due to quality and quantity of devices, Ten critical check points were instituted as follows; a) Equipment Lab Test: Two test labs were established in Kenya to test each of the proposed devices before manufacturing. b) Factory Acceptance Checks: A technical committee was sent to inspect and verify the devices at 21,731 Primary schools in the programme served with digital devices the Chinese factory before shipment and a comprehensive report was prepared c) Equipment Pre-shipment Testing; An internally recognized firm was hired to inspect and verify the equipment before shipment or airlifting to Kenya. d) Warehouse Inspection and Verification; A technical team was on standby to inspect and verify the devices in the warehouse before they were released to schools e) Schools-Contractor Inspection and Acceptance Tests: A pre-inspection and verification exercise was carried out by the teachers and contractor to ascertain the functionality, quantities and any defects before the school headmasters signed delivery notes and inspection sheets. f) Technical device inspections and Acceptance; An Inspection and Acceptance Committee was constituted for each school comprising Head teacher, Sub County Director of Education, ICT Teacher and ICTA Officer. g) Inspection and Verification by CDE; Each CDE will verify each schools inspections certificates within the county and signed a final inspection certificates and forwarded to ICTA. h) Inspection and Verifications by Tender Processing Committee; All final inspections and Acceptance certificates were signed by a multi-agency Inspection and Acceptance Committee and filed at ICTA before processing of payments for commissioning. i) Monitoring and Evaluations: A multi-agency monitoring and Evaluation team was constituted to carry out quarterly assessment on performance of the programme Current Status of the Programme Within a period of two years all the 1,083,827 contracted digital devices have been received inspected, tested, distributed and installed in 19,666 public primary schools across the Country. All the 1,100 curriculum support officers have been trained in addition to 92,344 teachers with 22,675 schools connected with electricity. Two local assembly plants have been constructed and operational each producing over 1200 devices daily in double shift. The programme has had other major outcomes such as electricity has been extended to rural homes, creation of over 12,000 jobs and a big market has been created for innovators in digital content development. Next Phase The programme is moving into the next phase where development of ‘Smart Classrooms’ will be adopted to enable collaborative learning, creativity and practical skills as witnessed in other parts of the world leading in this space The Author is the Head of Communications at the ICT Authority 5 POSTAL CORPORATION OF KENYA NATIONAL PUBLIC TENDER NOTICE Postal Corporation of Kenya was established by an Act of Parliament (PCK Act 1998) and operates as a Commercial Public Enterprise. The Corporation’s mandate includes provision of accessible, affordable and reliable Postal Services to all parts of Kenya as the designated Public Postal Licensee, where communications through the Post Office is a basic human right as enshrined in the 1948 United Nations Charter. The Postal Corporation of Kenya invites sealed Tenders from interested Eligible Bidders as indicated below:No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Reference Number PCK/PROC/13/2018/2019 PCK/PROC/RFP/14/2018 /2019 PCK/PROC/15/2018/2019 PCK/PROC/16/2018/2019 PCK/PROC/17/2018/2019 PCK/PROC/18/2018/2019 Description Request For Proposal For An E-Commerce Partnership Request For Proposal For ERP Forensic Audit. Tender For the Provision of an Integrated Communications, Public Relations, Marketing & Advertising Agency. Printing and supply of barcodes Supply of photocopy papers Supply of various cartridges Target Group Open Open Open Open Open Women Tender Charge Free Free Free Free Free Free 1,088,827 Digital devices contracted and delivered under the programme Complete tender documents can be downloaded FREE OF CHARGE from PCK website: www.posta.co.ke or from the IFMIS supplier portal: https://supplier.treasury.go.ke or www.tenders.go.ke. The Completed tender documents in a plain sealed envelope indicating Tender Number and Description as described in the tender document will be deposited in the Tender Box provided at Posta House, Mezzanine Floor, Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi, and be addressed to;The Postmaster General, Postal Corporation of Kenya, P. O. Box 34567 - GPO 00100, Nairobi 92,344 Teachers trained under the new curriculum to use the gadgets 22,675 Schools connected to the electricity grid to aid in the use of the devices so as to reach us on or before FRIDAY 23rd NOVEMBER, 2018 AT 11.00 A.M. The bid documents will be opened immediately thereafter, and bidders or their representative who choose to attend will be welcome to witness the opening at the Posta House Boardroom 7th floor. POSTMASTER GENERAL . Postal Corporation of Kenya, Posta House, Kenyatta Avenue. P.O. BOX 34567 GPO- 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 719 072 600 Fax:020 240374 www: posta.co.ke

4 Publizr Home