More than 10,000 junior secondary schools across Kenya are set to receive Smart Boards and Laptops as the government rolls out a nationwide programme aimed at strengthening technology-based learning and supporting the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
The distribution exercise was officially flagged off on June 9 at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) in Nairobi.
Under the programme, 10,382 schools will each receive a teacher laptop and a 65-inch interactive smart board through a phased rollout across the country.
The initiative is being implemented by the ICT Authority under the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP) with support from the World Bank.
Officials said the devices are expected to enhance classroom learning, improve access to digital educational resources and equip learners with skills needed in an increasingly digital economy.
The launch event included a demonstration of the smart boards’ capabilities and a remote learning session involving students from New Mukuru Primary School, which has been using a smart board donated by Huawei.
Speaking during the event, Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke said the programme goes beyond the distribution of devices and is intended to prepare learners for future opportunities in the digital age.
“Today, we are not merely flagging off devices; we are investing in human capital, digital skills and the future prosperity of our children,” he said.
He added that the government remains focused on expanding digital infrastructure, connectivity, digital hubs and skills development to ensure learners across the country can benefit from technology.
ICT Authority Chief Executive Officer Jessy Maruti said the success of the programme would ultimately be measured by its impact in classrooms.
“The true value of this programme will not be measured by the number of devices delivered, but by the impact they create in classrooms,” he said.
Maruti noted that the authority will work to ensure the devices reach their intended schools while continuing efforts to expand internet connectivity, particularly in underserved areas.
World Bank KDEAP Task Leader Aneliya Muller said the devices would help make learning more interactive and support the development of digital skills among learners.
According to Muller, secondary schools play an important role in helping students build digital and problem-solving skills needed for today’s and future job markets.
John Kiarie, the Dagoretti South MP and the Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, said the launch was a major milestone for Kenya in its ongoing process of digital transformation.
According to him, the integration of technology in class will empower learners to acquire the requisite skills needed to survive in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution while boosting Kenya’s aspirations towards being a digital economy.
The government added that the devices represent only one aspect of the digital learning system that also encompasses other aspects such as teacher readiness, provision of digital content, connectivity, technical support, maintenance, and constant monitoring.
In order to promote digital learning and connectivity, over 30,000 kilometers of fiber optic network cables have been installed all over the country towards an ultimate target of installing 100,000 kilometers of fiber optics. Also, more than 8,000 public entities have been connected to the internet.
According to the officials involved, this program is part of the government’s agenda to establish a digital, knowledge-based economy.
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