Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has assured government commitment to incorporate Information Communication Technology (ICT) into learning systems in a bid to boost performance and move with the changing technology.
Speaking on Tuesday when he officially opened an ICT room at Kiambu Township Primary School, Matiang’i said that the government has put in place proper measures to boost education through Information Communication Technology.
He cited that the laptop project saying that it’s on course and that the first phase will be launched out soon.
“The government is keen to ensure integration of ICT into learning so that we can have better performances and also move with the changing technological world,” he said.
The CS said that various government ministries and agencies are working to make sure that the laptop project and other projects in the education sector are implemented before next year.
He said that his ministry is closely working with the Energy Ministry to ensure that all public schools across the country are connected with electricity.
He said that infrastructures are being put in place adding that but May this year every school will be connected to electricity.
The Education CS asked county governments to work with the national government on education projects.
He noted that though education is a function of the national government, counties can chip and boost some of the programmes.
Meanwhile the CS has put on notice school heads demanding examination fees from candidates preparing to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
The CS said the government had set aside Sh3.4 Billion to cater for examination fees for candidates seeking to write exams late this year.
Matiang’i said that stern action will be taken against school heads who will contravene the directive.
“We have written to all county education directors asking them to report school heads who are demanding examination fees from students,” said the CS.
Kiambu MP who was in company of the CS lauded the national government laptop initiate and urged it to fast-track it.
“The government’s laptop project is to learning especially in this technological era and will certainly promote education,” said the Kiambu MP.
Kiambu Township Primary school is among schools selected for the pilot laptop project.
Laptop project to pupil’s joining Standard One was a pledge made by the Jubilee government in the run up to the 2013 general elections.