BrainPower
Senior Member
- May 19, 2009
- 146
- 1
By David Mugwe (Bdafrica.com)
The Kenya ICT Board has lined up a $120 (about Sh10,000) laptop grant for 15,500 university students in a plan meant to raise Internet access and computer usage.
Through the World Bank programme dubbed Wezesha, the board aims to increase computer usage and make it a learning tool.
This initial phase of the initiative will allow up to 15,500 students in Kenyan universities afford a laptop, said Martin Kinyua, project manager, digital inclusion at the board.
The project being funded under the Transparency and Communications Infrastructure Project (TCIP) will cost the board about Sh160 million.
We want to make it possible for students to get a laptop. Once you give people the tools they are able to become more productive, said Mr Kinyua.
The project set to start in September is expected to increase ICT usage in education sector from primary to secondary and university level.
Using a laptop will become a necessity in every sphere of life, said Lucy Odhiambo, the ICT board communications manager.
The Board recently supplied high speed broadband to academic institutions including universities and colleges under its KENET Connectivity programme funded by the World Bank.
Over 200MB was supplied to about 54 institutions.
The project will enable the students use the bandwidth by putting laptops in their hands, said Ms Odhiambo.
University students will apply for the funds through a portal managed by the ICT Board. Beneficiaries will be selected on a first-come-first served basis.
Verification of students will be done at the retailer, at the university and using the portal.
The ICT Board is targeting approximately eight per cent of the student population in each university. The number of laptops given per university will be pro-rated to the based on the total number of students per university, said Mr Kinyua.
The ICT board called on other industry players to come up with incentives that will make laptops affordable for all students.
Educationists have lauded the project saying computers have become an important tool for students.
Dr. Jon Masso, DVC academics at Daystar University said: The project will benefit institutions because more students will use the computers without necessarily having to use computer labs.
The director of computer studies at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr. Mwaura Mwangi said: We expect a good number of the students to make good use of the laptops. But the ICT board should do a feasibility study to assess proper utilisation of the laptops.
Students have needs and one challenge is that some may end up selling the laptops the ICT Board and the universities may not have control over that.
----------------------------------END-------------------------------------------
Kama wakiweza kutimiza hata angalau hata 70% ya malengo haya .nina wapongeza.
Now We are talking ....! This is the right way of going about bringing ICT to students.
B.P
The Kenya ICT Board has lined up a $120 (about Sh10,000) laptop grant for 15,500 university students in a plan meant to raise Internet access and computer usage.
Through the World Bank programme dubbed Wezesha, the board aims to increase computer usage and make it a learning tool.
This initial phase of the initiative will allow up to 15,500 students in Kenyan universities afford a laptop, said Martin Kinyua, project manager, digital inclusion at the board.
The project being funded under the Transparency and Communications Infrastructure Project (TCIP) will cost the board about Sh160 million.
We want to make it possible for students to get a laptop. Once you give people the tools they are able to become more productive, said Mr Kinyua.
The project set to start in September is expected to increase ICT usage in education sector from primary to secondary and university level.
Using a laptop will become a necessity in every sphere of life, said Lucy Odhiambo, the ICT board communications manager.
The Board recently supplied high speed broadband to academic institutions including universities and colleges under its KENET Connectivity programme funded by the World Bank.
Over 200MB was supplied to about 54 institutions.
The project will enable the students use the bandwidth by putting laptops in their hands, said Ms Odhiambo.
University students will apply for the funds through a portal managed by the ICT Board. Beneficiaries will be selected on a first-come-first served basis.
Verification of students will be done at the retailer, at the university and using the portal.
The ICT Board is targeting approximately eight per cent of the student population in each university. The number of laptops given per university will be pro-rated to the based on the total number of students per university, said Mr Kinyua.
The ICT board called on other industry players to come up with incentives that will make laptops affordable for all students.
Educationists have lauded the project saying computers have become an important tool for students.
Dr. Jon Masso, DVC academics at Daystar University said: The project will benefit institutions because more students will use the computers without necessarily having to use computer labs.
The director of computer studies at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr. Mwaura Mwangi said: We expect a good number of the students to make good use of the laptops. But the ICT board should do a feasibility study to assess proper utilisation of the laptops.
Students have needs and one challenge is that some may end up selling the laptops the ICT Board and the universities may not have control over that.
----------------------------------END-------------------------------------------
Kama wakiweza kutimiza hata angalau hata 70% ya malengo haya .nina wapongeza.
Now We are talking ....! This is the right way of going about bringing ICT to students.
B.P
