By James Adika
A cloud of excitement hanged at Homa bay Primary School in Homa bay Sub -County, after class one pupils received the long awaited laptops from the government of Kenya.
Over 60 pupils in standard one expressed their joy to government for eventually delivering the precious gadgets to their school.
During the annual budget read in June 2015, the Government set aside Kshs. 17.58 billion for deployment of ICT learning devices to schools, development of digital content, building the capacity of teachers and rolling out computer laboratory for class 4 to class 8 in all schools throughout the country which set the project in motion.
In September, the government unveiled the Digital Literacy program brand known as Digi School. Digi School carries various components of the project including provision of devices for both the learners and the teachers as well as capacity development for the various players involved, content development as well as establishment of local assembly for digital devices and related accessories.
The ICT authority gave a green light to two bidders to go ahead and prove their concepts in 150 schools across the country.The winner consortia comprised of Moi University and JP SA Couto emerged the winner in two of the three available lots, whereas that of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and Positivo BGH came second.
The successful bidders were to provide installation and commissioning of the Digital Learning Solution for the 22,000 public primary schools.
Head teacher James Muga said the gadgets will aid learning and equip pupils with information technology skills.Muga called on the government to provide funds for the reinforcement of resource centers, where the gadgets will be stored, so as to secure them from theft and burglary.
The head teacher further applauded the government for starting the programme in his school, adding that in Homa Bay County; only three primary schools were selected for the piloting phase of project.He asked the government to avail funds for routine maintenance and replacement of the gadgets, noting that the equipment were delicate and needed proper maintenance.
Happy pupils broke into a jig, as they celebrated the receipt of the long awaited laptops.“We are very happy since we have finally become Homa Bay Digital School,” They said.
Provision of laptops to standard one pupils is one of the flagship projects in the Jubilee manifesto, which will be implemented in all primary schools in the country.The school received a total of 67 laptops for the pupils and two for the teachers.
