Education has always been an equaliser and a key to unlocking individual and communal success, especially for those in the remote parts of the country.
Digital Access Transforms Education in Remote Isiolo County
With the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) heavily reliant on electronic learning, access to a telecommunications network and a connection to the information superhighway is now a critical component in the journey to literacy.
Gotu Primary School Teachers Recall Life Before Internet
For students and teachers at Gotu Primary School deep in Isiolo County, life before the arrival of the network was tough as Teacher Maina recalls.
“I was posted to this school on 21st July 2015, and it was tough. There was no network. There was insecurity due to the battle for scarce resources. Since the network was availed, we have witnessed a huge change in our lives and in education.”
Competence-Based Curriculum Relies on Strong Network Connectivity
To get to Gotu Primary School from Archers Post in Isiolo, you drive through the Shaba National Reserve, across dusty, rocky terrain backdropped by ranges. Elephants, monkeys, and antelopes roam as River Ewaso Nyiro trickles past.
Being so close to nature means being very far from the comforts and necessities of modernity. The world has gone digital, and education has followed globally.
E‑Learning Brings Joy and Curiosity to Rural Students
With the advent of the new curriculum and rise of e‑learning in Kenya, children in areas without network risk being left behind.
Teacher Vincent Maina has witnessed firsthand the huge difference that availability of the network has made to his young students.
“The first time I was able to Google and show the students things online, they were so happy. The curiosity and drive to learn was so high. Remember we are deep in the countryside. So, when a student can access e‑learning here, they are overjoyed.”
Network Access Simplifies Teacher Performance Evaluation via TPAD
The benefits from the network extend beyond the classroom and into the administrative work that teachers do. Teachers in Kenya are evaluated by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) through a mechanism called TPAD.
“Before the network, we would be forced to travel 100km to Isiolo to fulfill the TPAD requirements in a cyber. Now that is ancient history as I just use my phone and get it done while here in Gotu,” explains Teacher Maina.
Connectivity Strengthens Family Ties and Teacher Wellbeing
The ease of communication and ability to send money to their families has also improved familial relationships for the teachers. This results in happier teachers, which positively impacts the provision of education.
Universal Service Fund Project Powers Rural School Transformation
The network in Gotu has been availed through the Universal Service Fund (USF) project, a collaborative effort between the Communication Authority of Kenya and Safaricom.
Safaricom Engineers Proud to Bridge Kenya’s Digital Divide
For the engineers involved in the USF project, the changes in how education is availed due to the network availability are a source of pride and joy.
“I want kids in the North of Kenya to have a similar future as the one I want my kids to have. I want them to get connected to the outside world. I want them to have exposure,” says Robert Wanderi, a system engineer at Safaricom.
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