Kenya: First E-Learning Curriculum for Schools

Kenya's first digital E-learning curriculum for schools was launched on 30^th March 2010 during the first ever regional E-learning conference with keen emphasis on learning institutions to embrace new innovations in IT. The three-day conference organised by the Ministry of Education of Kenya, Kenya ICT Trust Fund, Microsoft, the UN Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) and ICWE Africa at the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) had attracted over 1,500 participants from Eastern and Central Africa and marked a critical milestone in embracing ICT in education and its integration in the education sectors of the nations represented. The conference with 'Transforming Education Through E-learning' as its theme also served as a coordinating mechanism to build synergies among stakeholders to promote consensus and collaboration on issues concerning E-learning in education. The key focus of the curriculum is on learning institutions to embrace new innovations in IT. Widened use of ICTs for learning in schools and colleges will improve the quality of teaching, learning and management and help raise the standards of education in the country. The initiative, which took four years to develop 11 subjects for Form One and 11 subjects for Form Two, will make local content relevant to the computer and help in playing a key role in the realization of Vision 2030. The schools will not have to buy chemicals for practical reactions. Instead they will use computers to make it simpler to demonstrate some of the practical lessons. With digitization of curriculum, demonstrations in sciences practical lessons such as chemistry, biology, physics and other subjects like geography will easily be done through the computer. The move, which has so far cost KIE more than 4 million US dollars, has also developed a curriculum for mathematics and science for Class Four and Five and is in the process of finalising the curriculum for Class Six and Seven.

Source: Coastweek, 2^nd April 2010