Microsoft, Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide teachers with laptops. The expected MoU among the three organizations is geared towards encouraging teachers across the country to acquire laptops at a reduced cost, and then pay on a monthly basis. Speaking from the sidelines of the recently concluded eLearning AfricA in Lusaka, Microsoft ‘s Education Programme Manager for East and Southern Africa Mark Matunga said the laptops will be offered by Safaricom and deducted through a check-off system from the teachers’ salary at the TSC. The cost will vary between US$400-US$600, spread over a period of 24 months. He said KIE in collaboration with the other two organizations, will facilitate teachers’ training on the educational content to be included in the laptops for curriculum development.
“Microsoft will organize training of trainers to visit schools and train the teachers,” said Matunga. “This will be in an effort to promote technology in education, which will include sensitizing teachers on how to use ICT and improve in their teaching.”

The laptops will come with an Internet connection of two years. Microsoft has also been involved in setting up of email addresses for teachers in public schools. At least 230,000 emails have been generated for the last two months with the domain @mwalimu.org. This, Matunga said, was to encourage teachers to share information and skills, and also improve on their quality of teaching. TSC has also been encouraged to send memos via the email addresses to supplement other means of communication and encourage technology adoption. However, Matunga regretted that despite the efforts, some teachers do not activate their emails.

“We have set up so many addresses but we find that some teachers hardly activate their email addresses,” he said.

He added that for the programme to be more effective there must be a clear policy framework set by the government on ICTs for education and training, capacity building by educators and students, availability of infrastructure in schools, access to other resources and relevant content for the students. Microsoft has also been involved in mentorship programmes to the Starehe Girls through technology fairs. Matunga said the organization trains the students through computing curriculum as part of their volunteer work in the community.

“Three girls from Starehe attended the Clinton Global initiative last year in September, who later got scholarships via the programme to study outside the country. This has helped demystify the phobia that technology is only meant for men,” said Matunga.