The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with education technologies firm Kodris Africa to initiate coding in public schools.
The signing took place at the ICT Authority office at Teleposta Towers whose content was approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
The memorandum was done to see the recently approved coding curriculum implemented in schools where the ICT Authority is implementing the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP).
Through the Digital Literacy Programme Technical Implementing Committee, the ICT Authority and the Ministry of Education will select the first collection of public schools in which the coding content will be deployed as part of the piloting process.
“We have already distributed more than 1.2 million laptops for learners in public schools in Kenya as well as connected electricity to more than 22,000 schools,” said Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, The ICTA Acting CEO.
This move is expected to play a key role in the content deployment of the Digital Literacy Programme through which the government has distributed more than 1.2 million laptops for learners across the country.
Kodris Africa CEO Mugumo Munene said that the coding content approved by KICD will go a long way in complementing the infrastructure rolled out by the ICT Authority in public schools.
“ICTA has done a lot of work through providing laptops, tablets and connectivity. We are excited to be part of Kenya’s journey of deepening digital literacy and preparing our young learners to become architects of the digital age where they can be producers rather than merely consumers or bystanders in this digital age unfolding in our generation,” said Munene.
The signing comes a month after ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru unveiled the Kenya National Digital Master plan 2022-2032 which is a blueprint for leveraging and deepening the contribution of the ICT sector to accelerate social-economic growth.
Mucheru said coding and computer programming are becoming more important job skills in a world that is more computerized and students need them to be more competitive in the modern and future job markets.
The Kodris syllabus – which is presented for learners through an interactive online studio – is also the first and only coding interactive syllabus so far to be accredited by Pearson in this category globally and was approved by KICD for use in Kenyan schools on April 19.
The ICTA Acting Director of Programmes and Standards Thomas Odhiambo congratulated Kodris on getting their product approved by KICD.
