The government, through the support of the World Bank, has distributed 231 Interactive Smart Boards (ISBs) with a view to enhance digital learning in public junior schools in Busia County.
The gadgets distributed to the schools by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy are expected to be distributed to the remaining 215 schools during the second phase of the programme.
In a speech read on his behalf by Busia County Director of Education, Mary Oichoe, during the official launch of the gadget at Burumba Junior School on Thursday, the Principal Secretary for Economic Planning, Boniface Makokha, said that the digital learning programme targets all learners in all junior schools across the country with the aim of integrating the use of digital technology in learning.
‘He added that the programme has been implemented in 10382 public junior schools across the country in the first phase.
‘We are planning as a government to give all public primary schools the same gadgets to improve learning in schools,’ he said.
The official further stated that out of the 446 public primary schools in Busia County, 231 have received interactive smart boards, with the remaining 215 targeted under the next phase.
He at the same time stated that seven modern markets across Busia County have been surveyed for the installation of public wifi so that all residents of Busia can easily access technology.
‘In 2022, the government committed to establishing digital hubs in wards countrywide,’ he said, adding that 316 have been established through the NG-CDF.
‘In Busia alone, 13 digital hubs have been established,’ he said, adding that the government is committed to enrolling the youth through Ajira and Jitume to train them for online work.
Busia County Director of Education, Mary Oichoe urged teachers to embrace and work with ICT to ensure effective use of the gadgets.
Oichoe at the same time commended the Teacher’s Service Commission for making efforts to ensure that all teachers are trained on the use of technology.
‘Here in Burumba alone, a total of eight teachers have been trained on how to interact with this gadget,’ she said, adding that the trained teachers should share the knowledge received with their counterparts.
She further urged the security team and the school administration to ensure the safety of the gadgets.
Busia County Director for the Teachers’ Service Commission, Jackson Ongeto appreciated the ICT Authority, the World Bank, the Ministry of Education and the Teachers’ Service Commission for accelerating the implementation of digital literacy in learning institutions.
“Today we have received smart boards and laptops for use,” he said, adding that Busia County had received 231 of the gadgets.
Ongeto also appreciated the role of teachers in implementing ICT integration in learning and teaching in junior schools across the county.
“I want to challenge our teachers to sharpen their skills more by taking advantage of the various training that we are receiving,” he said.
He pointed out that the county had trained more than 1252 teachers through the support of the ICT Authority on how to interact with these digital gadgets.
“For our learners, I must say that I am so impressed by what you were capable of doing during the class demonstration exercise,” he said.
The official urged teachers and learners to interact with the gadgets with guided responsibility.
‘For parents who are here, let us allow our children to access digital gadgets with responsibility because we also know the effects of unlimited access to the gadgets, especially with the availability of the internet,’ he said.
Busia Sub County Director for Quality Assurance, Robert Maleya, said that the gadgets will make learning more interesting and help retain learners in schools.
By Salome Alwanda
