Transmara pupils on the Digital age

Things are not as they always seem to be. We expect city schools to be able to access digital books and laptops for their day to day learning due to proximity to government but this is not the case those in the rural areas have more access. But then again they say you cannot have everything.

As most pupils in primary schools eagerly await the fulfilment of the government’s promise of delivering laptops, others in a school in Transmara, Narok County are way ahead. The pupils at Kakenya Centre for Excellence in Transmara West have already moved into the ‘digital world’ without having to necessarily wait for President Kenyatta to implement this promise.

Despite the fact that the school is located in one of the remotest parts of the country, its pupils are already using digital tablets, known as E-readers as their textbooks. An e-reader, also called an e-book reader or e-book device, is a mobile electronic device designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital e-books or periodicals. This is a mobile library that can store up to 1500 books.

The digital books have come as a blessing to the pupils most of whom are from the Maa community, which has been slow in embracing modern ways of living.

"We are a pastoral community, all we know is our cattle. Our children will get a chance to live a life we did not live,' says Rose Saleo, a resident of Enoosaen.

She hopes that the new development will bring about positive changes to the community that still holds its traditions very dear.

"We are in full support of the programme. We want our children to be masters in ICT.They will compete with the rest of the world," adds Ms Saleo.

The school’s director Dr Kakenya Ntaiya says time has come for Kenyans to adopt modern technology and it is in that spirit that her school partnered with Worldreader, an international NGO, to introduce e-reader programs for the more than 150 pupils in the school.

Dr Kakenya says the e-reader tablet is effective as it retains power for up to three weeks and hence it is efficient in areas that have electricity challenges.

Pupils in the school no longer depend on books published on paper.

"We have long depended on textbooks for learning in our schools but the world is changing as everything is being digitised. Therefore, our children have to catch up with the rest of the world," says Dr Kakenya.

She encouraged other schools across the country to embrace the programme saying the e-reader will boost performance in the school as more pupils will be enlightened on matters of technology that are key for developing countries.

"After realising that we didn’t have enough, and at times relevant up-to-date books, we approached Worldreader who accepted to partner with us so that our girls get the best,” said Dr Kakenya.

She added that the programme will promote a reading culture that most pupils lack.

Dr Kakenya said they have also partnered with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) which ensures the textbooks in the e-readers are those recommended by the Education Ministry.

"Among the many textbooks and storybooks in the programme are those recommended by KICD hence we are assured our children are getting the right material.

She said it is a relief for parents, teachers and the pupils themselves who no longer need to worry of loss of books or inadequacy. The pupils, she adds, have also been saved the burden of carrying heavy luggage of books every day when going to and from school.

Dr Kakenya adds that the programme will save girls from early marriages as it will encourage them to remain in school.

"Our girls will be motivated to complete their education and hence avoid early marriages and pregnancies," she adds.

Retrogressive culture like early marriage has been mentioned as a key hindrance to girls’ education in the community.

East Africa Worldreader publishing associate Muthoni Muhunyo said the programme will promote literacy by making digital books available to everybody. Ms Muhunyo said by September 2013, Worldreader had put over 700,000 e-books into the hands of over 12,000 children in nine African countries.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke