Head teachers want the roll-out of the laptop project stopped until the standard one teachers are trained to handle the devices.
Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) National Treasurer Josephat Otiende said the teachers were only taken for a two weeks training prior to the distribution of the learner digital devices a period which is not enough to build their capacity to interact and navigate through the devices for the delivery of the digital education program.
“We suggested that the Ministry of Education rolls-out the program in a systematic way. You cannot rush a program that is technical and expect greater results. We are concerned of the government's move to rush the program against our recommendation that a well laid out program on teachers training on the digital content delivery be laid out and implemented. That has not taken place,” Mr Otiende said.
He also said the program should not only target the class one pupils as digital education is a necessity to all learners.
“The government should also pay attention to the class eight leavers who need the digital knowledge more than the class one pupils themselves. Every other pupil should be brought on board to interact with the digital content ahead of the roll-out of the new curriculum system,” he said.
Mr Otiende said the teachers who are already in service be taken through a comprehensive refresher courses and that the training should be a continuous process as the program is implemented to avoid discord between the learners and the trainees as they interact with the devices.
Moi University ICT Director Professor Edwin Ataro who is in charge of overseeing the project in twenty one counties in Western and Nyanza regions also who shared the same sentiments saying lack of know-how by the teachers deployed to handle the laptop program is wanting.
He said the roll out of the digital education programme is key in the education system that will only work if the teachers are well inducted to the digital contents and the technical part of the the program.
“We had a one week training for the teachers recently and we realised that almost three quarters do not even know what a cursor is. The level of knowledge is wanting considering that the teachers only went through a two weeks training prior to the roll-out of the initial stage. Moi University is putting in place an effective teacher training program that would address the gaps,” said Mr Ataro.