Vihiga:Schools in Vihiga County have been encouraged to integrate technology into their educational practices by effectively utilizing the digital devices provided by the government. This initiative aims to incorporate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across all learning areas.
According to Kenya News Agency, Joyce Chesang, Vihiga County Director of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), emphasized the importance of ICT during the launch of the interactive smart board at St Francis Hambale Junior School. She urged school heads, teachers, and learners to embrace digital tools, highlighting the contrast between the previous 844 education system and the current Competency-Based Education (CBE), which relies heavily on digital resources.
Chesang also called on educators to ensure that digital learning devices are accessible to students rather than being locked away, as was common with the devices issued at the onset of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). She suggested that these devices should be integrated with the digital smart boards to foster early technological adoption among students.
Further, Chesang advocated for increased government funding to maintain these digital tools, ensuring they remain in good condition. She praised the government for introducing environmentally friendly digital devices that replace traditional chalk, which was harmful to health.
Evelyn Chemjor, Vihiga County Director of Education, supported the initiative and asked schools already equipped with digital devices to share them with those still waiting for theirs. This sharing would help maintain a uniform level of technological access among students.
Joshua Opondo, an assistant director from the ICT Authority, noted that 195 out of 386 public junior schools have already received an interactive smart board and a laptop through the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), supported by the World Bank. He assured that the remaining schools would soon receive their devices.
Opondo also mentioned plans to connect six markets in Vihiga County to the internet, as well as providing WiFi to 11 post-secondary institutions, facilitating online access for students. Gilbert Muyesu, Assistant Director of ICT from the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, highlighted efforts to automate government services as part of the digital superhighway initiative.
At the event, St Francis Hambale Junior School’s head teacher, Sister Linet Ijai, acknowledged the digital resources but requested additional devices for schools with larger student populations. Students Beryl Mideva and Abdimamalik Abdikadir expressed their appreciation for the new tools, which have made completing assignments more convenient. Teacher Dennis Ubaga demonstrated the smart board’s benefits during a computer lesson, noting its role in enhancing classroom interactivity.
