KENET Executive Director Meoli Karshoda, Vice Chairman Richard Bell,Nairobi County Education Member Christopher Khaemba test out the Fiber to schools project at Moi Girls School Nairobi.
In a move aimed at boosting internet penetration for schools, Wananchi Group, The Kenya Education Network and The County Government of Nairobi have embarked on a long term corporate commitment for provision of free internet in schools. The project dubbed “WazED†is expected to leverage on Wananchi group’s fiber infrastructure that will assist the Nairobi county government in delivering ICT services to an estimated 2,715 schools in Nairobi County.
Kicking off the $2 million initiative, Wananchi Group has confirmed that the project will be initially piloted for 15 months in 245 schools. The first three months will be used to roll out the fibre network and the remaining twelve months as an evaluation of the progress of the project.
This move comes even as the government of Kenya launched a National Broadband Strategy that will facilitate realization of the Vision 2030 and create a “digital Kenyaâ€. The strategy, which articulates the national ICT agenda, is seen as a catalyst for the creation of a knowledge-based economy in Kenya.
Commenting while launching the initiative at Moi Girls School Nairobi, Minister of Education Nairobi County Mr. Christopher Khaemba lauded the initiative stating that Nairobi County is keen on promoting emerging trends by implementing e-learning programmes through partnerships with the private sector to invest in telecommunication infrastructure. “By deploying the free Internet program in schools we believe that we are and modernizing Kenya’s classrooms and teaching students new technologies,†he said.
In addition to the free Internet, Wananchi will provide each school with a digital set top box for connection to a television for use in delivery of audio content to students. Pre-primary kindergartens will be equipped with a digital set top box and a small television.