Kshs 17.6 billion allocated for deployment of e-learning devices to schools

The government has allocated Kshs 17.58 billion in the 2015/2016 budget for deployment of ICT learning devices to schools.

The budget will help in development of digital content, building the capacity of teachers and rolling out computer laboratory for class 4 to class 8 in all schools throughout the country.

This was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, Hon. Henry Rotich as he presented the 2015/2016 Budget in Parliament. Henry Rotich presented a Kshs 2.1 trillion budget, a 17 per cent increase from that of the fiscal year 2014/2015.

“Improving the quality of our educational system and making it accessible to all school going children through a comprehensive e-learning program remains a priority of this Administration. As such, through this budget, we are once again allocating a total of Kshs 17.58 billion for deployment of ICT learning devices to schools, development of digital content, building the capacity of teachers and rolling out computer laboratory for class 4 to class 8 in all schools throughout the country,” he said.

He also added that he was confident, that this time round through the allocation of the budget for the education sector, the deployment of ICT learning devices to schools, which was a key project in the Jubilee Government’s Manifesto will finally take off.

The project was one of main promises by the Jubilee government in its campaign. The project falls under the first key pillar of the Jubilee Manifesto, Unity (Umoja), where the government promised to raise education standards.

However, the project has since been faced by many hurdles prompting a case pending in court challenging its procurement process which has threatened to derail the fulfilment of the promise. It is through this that the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education, Prof Jacob Kaimenyi had stated earlier in the year that this had prompted the government to narrow down from its One Laptop Per Child project to computer labs as the best option of introducing ICT in schools.

The ambitious plan by the Jubilee government was set to deliver 1.3 million laptops to schoolchildren. The project would cost more than $ 600 million ( Kshs 53 billion).