KCB-National Bank Group announce sponsorship of coding lessons for 1000 public schools
The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Group have announced a combined sponsorship of coding lessons for 1000 public schools a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over countrywide roll-out of the coding curriculum in both primary and secondary schools.
Effectively, KCB-NBK Group will become the largest private sponsor since the launch of the coding program by Education Technologies firm Kodris Africa in April this year.
“KCB fully supports this new and game-changing development in our education system where our learners have a real chance of understanding how the digital world works and how they can build career paths that are in tune with the digital drumbeat of today’s world. We would therefore like to confirm our commitment to support the government’s effort in this regard by committing to sponsor 1000 public schools across the country under a pilot phase. We shall increase this commitment progressively as we go along with the pilot.,” said KCB Group Director for Retail Anastacia Kimtai.
Yesterday, during the event at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta commended the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for approving and implementing coding as a critical skill within the new Competency Based Curriculum.
“Kenya becomes the first country in Africa to approve coding as a subject of study within the official curricula for primary and secondary schools. I applaud the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development for leading our nation to this landmark achievement, by implementing coding as a critical skill within our new Competency Based Curriculum,” President Kenyatta said.
In April this year, KICD approved the novel syllabus for teaching coding in primary and secondary schools, the first in the country and Africa at large.
The approval is billed as Africa’s first set to deepen digital literacy, impact jobs and economy.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said since the launch of the coding curriculum barely two months ago, more than 317 private schools are deploying the KICD approved the coding curricula.
Mucheru noted that, already, a European based maritime equipment manufacturer (called Med-Marine) has confirmed full sponsorship of 8 public schools to benefit from coding using the approved curricula.
“The schools include Starehe Boys Centre in Nairobi County; Sparki Primary Schools in Mombasa County; Manyatta Primary School in Kisumu County; Nomads Primary School in Isiolo County; Mararal DEB in Samburu County; Chereta Primary School in Laikipia County; Icuga secondary School in Nyeri County; and Kitondo Primary School in Machakos County.” The CS said.
Mucheru lauded the private sector for swiftly taking up the clarion call to action to support the initiative.
“Similarly, other private sector partners that have come on board include Safaricom Ltd; Equity Bank; Cooperative Bank; National Bank; KCB; NCBA; and Stanbic Bank, as partners in deepening of coding as a subject of study in primary and secondary schools.” Mucheru added.
They spoke at State House during an appreciation ceremony of the president’s digital promise underpinned within the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) and Presidential Digital Learning Program (PDTP).
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha was among senior government officials present.
At the same time, the President inaugurated the Kenya National Digital Master Plan that runs from this year to 2032 and the National Cyber-Security Strategy 2022 which provides strategic interventions in addressing national cyber-security challenges and threats.
President Kenyatta expressed optimism that the national digital master plan will cement the country’s leadership in ICT by creating an enabling policy, legal and regulatory environment for the greater adoption of e-governance as well as fostering the setup and growth of ICT-related businesses.
“This, no doubt, will enhance employment creation, enable and scale up ICT innovation and the development of a dynamic and robust ICT sector that will enhance growth of all sectors of our economy. The master plan also guides investors while planning their investment priorities,” President Kenyatta said.
He pointed out that the government is keen on leveraging the ICT initiatives to achieve its national and global commitments, applauding the digital master plan’s target of establishing over 20,000 village digital hubs across the country for citizen digital training.
He added that the village digital hubs will enable the Government to employ an additional 40,000 youth directly to man the centres and provide training to every citizen interested in enhancing their skills and competencies.
As he winds up his term in office, President Kenyatta expressed satisfaction that his administration has made great strides in digitization and embedding ICT across every aspect of the public life.
He cited the revolution in the delivery of Government services through the globally acclaimed “Huduma Centres” as one of the achievements of the country’s digitization programme.
In the education sector, President Kenyatta said the Digital Literacy Programme has been a key cog of the transformation of the education system.
“Despite an initial delay in the roll-out process, today the Digital Literacy Programme has transformed our education sector by making digital literacy universally available to our young learners, right from the earliest stage of their lives,” President Kenyatta said.
The President also acknowledged the progress made within the second tier of ICT skills development through the Presidential Digital Talent Programme that was inaugurated in 2015.
