A total of 341 public comprehensive schools in Migori County are set to receive laptops and smartboards under a government digital education programme aimed at expanding technology-based learning in schools.
The rollout, which began at Migori Comprehensive Junior School, is part of the government’s Digital Superhighway programme and makes Migori the county with the highest allocation of the digital learning equipment among the 47 counties.
Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Asset Management Cyrill Odede said the initiative is intended to expose learners to ICT skills at an early stage and prepare them for an increasingly digital economy.
“ICT now is the real thing,” Odede said, noting that technology is increasingly becoming part of education from the earliest years of schooling.
Installation of the equipment has already started in several schools, including Migori Primary School, with officials saying the exercise is expected to cover all 341 institutions within about two weeks.
Odede urged school heads to ensure the equipment is properly secured, warning against theft and vandalism of the public investment.
“What we are encouraging our head teachers to do is to make sure these gadgets are secured,” he said.
He also called on security agencies to work closely with school administrators to ensure that anyone involved in stealing the equipment faces legal action.
“Let us not leave them out, because they will steal one—if they are not taken to court, the following day they go to another school,” Odede said.
Teachers at Centre of Digital Rollout
The success of the programme will depend largely on the ability of teachers to integrate the technology into classroom instruction.
Migori County Director of Education Jacob Onyiego has previously emphasised the importance of government investment in education infrastructure and the implementation of competency-based education programmes in the county.
The new digital equipment is expected to complement teachers’ work by enabling them to use interactive digital content, multimedia resources and other technology-based teaching materials.
Officials have also stressed the importance of training teachers to ensure that the equipment is not only installed but effectively used in lessons.
The rollout is taking place in a county where the government has continued to invest in education infrastructure, including classrooms designed to support the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Masara Welcomes Education Investment
Suna West MP Peter Masara is among the leaders supporting increased investment in education infrastructure and programmes in the constituency.
Masara, who has served as the Member of Parliament for Suna West since 2017, has previously participated in education stakeholders’ engagements aimed at improving education standards and supporting the implementation of competency-based education.
The digital learning rollout adds another component to ongoing efforts to improve learning infrastructure and equip schools with resources required for modern education.
Motari Links Digital Skills to National Development
Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Joseph Motari is also among the senior government officials associated with the wider government development agenda being implemented across the country.
Motari, who assumed the Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs portfolio in December 2022, previously served in the Ministry of Education’s State Department for Post Training and Skills Development.
His previous experience in the education sector underscores the broader government emphasis on skills development as part of national development.
The digital education programme is similarly aimed at equipping learners with skills that can support their transition into further education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Electricity Critical to Programme
The availability of electricity remains an important factor in the successful implementation of the digital learning programme.
Laptops and smartboards require reliable power to function, making continued investment in rural electrification and school connectivity critical to the initiative.
Officials said a high proportion of the targeted schools already have access to electricity, providing a foundation for the use of the new equipment.
However, stakeholders will also need to address maintenance, teacher training, connectivity and security if the investment is to produce sustained benefits.
Part of Government’s Four-Pillar Agenda
Odede linked the digital rollout to the four key pillars of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development agenda: food security and agriculture, universal healthcare, affordable housing and the Digital Superhighway.
He cited government interventions in agriculture, healthcare and affordable housing while describing digital infrastructure as an increasingly important component of national development.
The affordable housing programme, he said, was also creating employment opportunities for young people in sectors including construction, electrical work, plumbing and masonry.
On education, however, the focus remains on ensuring that learners acquire the digital competencies required in the modern economy.
From Installation to Impact
With installation teams expected to complete work in all 341 schools within two weeks, attention will now shift from delivery of the equipment to its effective use.
Schools will be expected to safeguard the devices, while teachers will need appropriate training to integrate them into classroom instruction.
For learners, the programme is expected to provide greater exposure to computers and digital learning resources and help narrow the technology gap between schools.
The rollout therefore marks an important expansion of digital learning infrastructure in Migori, but its long-term impact will ultimately depend on how effectively schools use, maintain and protect the equipment.
About The Author
