Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
The digital literacy Programme was born out of the Kenya's Government vision to make sure every pupil is prepared for today’s digital world. The Programme popularly as the laptop project introduces primary school children beginning with those in lower primary, to the use of digital and communication in learning.
The Programme entails the following Components; Power connection to all schools , Development of digital educational content, Teacher training and capacity development, Acquisition of teacher and learner devices and the setting up of Local assembly of electronic devices.
Through the Digital Literacy Programme ,Over one million digital learning devices have been supplied to over 19 thousand public primary schools across the country. More than 22 thousand schools have been connected to power supply which has benefited both schools and communities around the schools. Over 91 thousand primary school teachers have been trained on ICT integration in teaching and learning. Digital education content has been developed for five subjects taught at the primary school level. Two local assembly plants for ICT devices have been established to support the Programme thus creating employment opportunities.
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a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
•Preparing learners for the 21st century skills needed in today’s globally competitive environment.
•Creating employment opportunities arising from ICT support centres across the country
•Providing electricity to schools and the community.
•Increasing ICT skills among teachers and communities
•Creating business opportunity for digital content developers.
•Increasing the role of Kenya as global leader and pace setter in ICT
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
The Programme has been able to reach over 19 thousand public primary schools which represents a way of reaching the most vulnerable through inclusive partnerships. Power connection to all schools is free which has benefited the schools and the communities around them. More than 22 thousand primary schools across the country have been connected to power through this Programme.
The Programme has created employment opportunities resulting from the local assembly of ICT devices, ICT support and maintenance and transport and logistics. Over six thousand new jobs have been created due to the implementation of the Programme.
Question 2
The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
Through Digital Literacy Programme , Kenya aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by creating employment opportunities arising from ICT support centres across the country, providing electricity to schools and the community and preparing learners for the 21st century skills needed in today’s globally competitive environment
Question 3
The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
The DLP covers all public primary schools across the country. In addition, private schools are free to engage with the contractors to access the DLP devices and digital content. The Programme targets all types of learners, both special needs and regular learners across the country. The Programme promotes access to education through provision of universal content for all learners. The content is accessed through digital devices that are supplied to all public primary schools by the government at no cost to the school. The Programme also trains public primary school teachers on ICT integration at no cost to the teachers. Private primary schools are also free to send their teachers for the training so long as they cover the teachers’ personal upkeep. The tuition is free for all teachers
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
Power connection to all schools is free which has benefited the schools and the communities around them. More than 22 thousand primary schools across the country have been connected to power through this Programme.
The Programme has created employment opportunities resulting from the local assembly of ICT devices, ICT support and maintenance and transport and logistics. Over six thousand new jobs have been created due to the implementation of the Programme.
The Programme has created a lot of excitement among school going children, it has boosted school attendance, enrolment and pupils’ performance. It has made learning interesting thus improving retention.
The Programme has seen the pupils’ being introduced to technological knowledge at an early stage.
Question 4
The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
The Programme necessitated the formation of classroom management system which has aided in managing of class sessions. The teachers use the class room management system to instruct and monitor pupils. This improves the efficiency and effectiveness of learners. Learners can access learning materials despite the fact that there are no enough text books available in learning institution from marginalized areas via the education cloud. Digital content in DLP devices is interactive; it has animations, images, videos and audio that makes it interesting unlike the text books where the content was not interactive. This innovation improves the quality of education which is in line with the fourth SDG
Question 4b
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
The programme is the first of its kind to be implemented world wide.
Question 4c
c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
The Programme being a government project was funded from the ex-checker. Digital literacy programme multifaceted, has involved various stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project. this stakeholders include;-
•Teachers Services Commission who facilitate teacher training
•Rural Electrification Authority who facilitate connection of all public primary schools power
•Ministry of Education who provide oversight during implementation
•Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) who facilitate the development of Digital Content
•Ministry of ICT that is implementing the Programme
•Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) who provide integration of the Programme to special need learners
Question 5
The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
Since deployment of the Programme, both internal and external researchers have expressed interest through formal request to study the Programme. Different countries such as Zambia have requested for guidance in replicating the model for their local assembly.
Question 6
The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology in collaboration with the ministry of Industrialisation has established the Nairobi industrial technology park. The park has capacity of assembling 750 thousand devices per year and is expected to create employment for three thousand people. The park is working with a Positivo BGH from Argentina. Moi University has also set up an assembly plant within Eldoret town and is assembling two thousand devices a day.Educators are essential to ensure pupils learn and stay on track. To build and enhance the capacity of teachers to deliver digital learning to pupils, the programme has put in place a training module for teachers in public primary schools. In collaboration with targeted training programme for implementation of DLP there is continuous review and improvement of the training programme.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
The Programme will be sustainable since the government has built two local assembly plants i.e. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and Moi University.
Plans to set up support centers across the country are underway. This is meant to provide technical support the Programme. The government is also planning to set up regional support centers to further ensure sustainability of the project
Question 7
The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
No
Question 8
The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
Ministry of ICT- Oversight and negotiate for funding
Ministry of Education-Providing Over sight during implementation
The National Treasury- Provision of funds
Ministry of Industrialization-Support for local assemblies through policies
Ministry of Energy-Provision of special power tariffs for schools
Teachers Services Commission-Coordination of teacher training
Rural Electrification Authority & Kenya Power-Facilitating connection of all public primary schools power
Question 9
a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
•Education transforms lives and is at the heart mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development which is the digital literacy Programme primary focus.
Power connection to all schools is free which has benefited the schools and the communities around them. More than 22 thousand primary schools across the country have been connected to power through this Programme.
The Programme has created employment opportunities resulting from the local assembly of ICT devices, ICT support and maintenance and transport and logistics. Over six thousand new jobs have been created due to the implementation of the Programme.
The Programme has created a lot of excitement among school going children, it has boosted school attendance, enrolment and pupils’ performance. It has made learning interesting thus improving retention.