March 9^th 2018                       By Cheruiyot Korir

The government is working with Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA) of private primary schools to ensure the schools access Digital Learning Devices (DLP) at affordable prices for their learners.

Cabinet Secretary for ICT Joe Mucheru said, his Ministry has negotiated with manufacturers of DLP devices to supply the tablets to private primary schools at same pricing offered to public schools. Mr. Mucheru said children in both public and private schools should get the devices to ensure they are exposed equally to digital skills to prepare them for an information society.

The Cabinet Secretary who made the remarks at the Moi Educational Center in Nairobi today, during the school’s prize giving day, said, the government was exploring possible integration of technology in the school transport systems for safety and efficiency. He said there are technology solutions that provide data on safety and traffic which could be utilized for the good of children traveling on institutional vehicles.

Parents, Mr. Mucheru noted, need to allow their children to experiment with technology as a way of motivating them to get interested in ICT. He said children exposed to technology during formative stages would develop innovative skills necessary for the digital society.

He said the government would continue expanding ICT infrastructure in schools to promote adoption and prepare adequate ICT skilled graduates to meet the national market needs.

Mr. Mucheru urged students to work hard and create networks in the community that will help them innovate and achieve their dreams.

The Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA) Chairman Mike Kiptepkut asked government to develop policies that will ensure institutional vehicles ferrying schoolchildren are given priority on the highways for safety and punctuality.