The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology intends to complete internet connectivity to the first batch of 11 000 rural public primary schools by the end of 2016 in a bid to facilitate the digital literacy program in the country.
Speaking on Monday at a Naivasha hotel where he opened a five-day performance appraisal workshop for heads of departments in the Ministry of ICT, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Principal Secretary Sammy Itemere said that the bid was to expand the ICT infrastructure to enhance digitised learning.
"The government has already finalised the initial stages of the program's approval and has fully engaged Airtel Africa and Safaricom Ltd to expand the ICT infrastructure to rural areas in the counties in the government's quest to enable vulnerable children benefit from the ambitious digitised learning models," Mr Itemere said.
He added that his Ministry and the State Department of Education will run intensive ICT training programs for teachers alongside the connectivity program to make teachers ICT proficient.
Itemere further observed that the training programs will be invaluable in making the Digital Literacy program efficient and effective to learners across the country.
"The ICT facility will also help teachers across the country benefit from multiple online research resources which will be resourceful in helping them to expand their knowledge base in their areas of specialties for competitive services to learners," Itemere said.
The country has over 18,000 public primary schools which the Rural Electrification Board says it has connected 80 per cent of the schools to the national electricity grid.