GOK To Use Ksh 61 Billion On Digital Learning

By Nsunjo Erica

The government is set to spend 61 billion Shillings more in the second phase of the Digital Learning Project (DLP), between September 2020 and May 2021.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Education yesterday, Mr. Mucheru said 21,637 public primary schools were supplied with 1,168,798 devices, accounting for 99.6 percent of the contracted 21,729 schools in Phase One of the project.

During the implementation of the second phase of the digital learning project, a further Sh15 billion will be spent on Internet connectivity, according to ICT Cabinet Secretary Joseph Mucheru.

Part of the money shall also be used in the training of teachers, development of relevant infrastructure, and installation of electricity as the process continues.

Senate Committee on Education Mr. Mucheru said Phase Two of the project is now at the proof of concept stage and it targets 470 schools, 10 schools in every county.

According to Mr, Mucheru, assembling of the devices in the second phase is expected to kick off in September to December 2020 and distribution in January.

“The acquisition and assembly of the devices are expected to start from September to December 2020. They should be ready for distribution in January. The proof of concept stage is expected to end in May and full rollout will start in July,” the CS said.

The devices will be given to learners in Grade 4 to 6. They include advanced learners’ digital devices like tablets as per the school enrolment and three advanced teacher digital kits.

Every school will be supplied with five digital output devices known as educational robots and one wireless access point.

Previously, education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha, who spoke to the National Assembly Education Committee said that the planned January reopening of primary and secondary schools may have to be pushed further.

The possibility that these learners could remain home January is now looming large, as was the case for those in colleges and universities whose September reopening date was pushed forward.