Kenya: Computer literacy vital for secondary schools, says Minister
Source: Highway Africa
www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za

Increasing computer literacy in Kenya's secondary schools is a prerequisite for improving ITs in the education system, education minister Prof. George Saitoti has said. And if Kenya wants to attain the Millennium Development Goals of reducing literacy levels, the government education policies must embrace the spirit of "technology" by introducing an ICT syllabus in all secondary schools. This, the minister says will put Kenya at par with the rest of the world as regards ICTs. Speaking HANA, the minister emphasized the government's plan of increasing computer literacy at the secondary school level to at least 70% of those who complete secondary school. "Kenyans should know that computers are no longer a luxury. We must intensify ICT training in order to leapfrog into the digital age and compete effectively with the rest of the world," he said. Kenya is among the African countries that benefit from refurbished 8-bit personal computers donated by the International Development of Computer Education (IDCE) program based in Japan. This initiative aims at widening access to basic computers for educational purposes in developing countries, where most often than not there is no public access to computer technology. In the long-term this program will increase basic computer skills and encourage computer education in Kenya. But realizing this dream in Kenya needs full government commitment particularly in the areas of accessibility to ICTs. Reducing low access levels to secondary school education, irrespective of gender, socio-economic class or geographical location takes center stage in the government's ICT policies. "This strategy will also aim at bridging the rural-urban digital divide. We don't want a situation where students from the rural areas are left in the cold. Resources need to be distributed equally." He said. In Kenya today, academics believe that the spread of education in science and technology is the only key to the country's future economic independence and prosperity. But not everyone agrees with that because the majority of the people are poor and have different priorities other than ICTs. However, the majority of the poor believe that; what they urgently require is not computers, but water and clothes and other necessities of life. Kenyans have a great desire to learn and to utilize the tools of modern technology. Currently plans are underway to have selected secondary school teachers undergo intensive ICT courses and impart the skills to the students.