2022
JKUAT
BBITM 4.2
HEIT 2405
EFFECTIVE R&D MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT
KELVIN NGANU
HDE216-0651/2018
Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................... 2
CASE FOR KAMENU PRIMARY SCHOOL ......................................................................................................... 3
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS ............................................................................................................................... 5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................. 8
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................. 8
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INTRODUCTION
Kamenu Primary School is a Public Primary school. It is located in Thika west Sub county,
Kiambu County in the Central Province of Kenya. It is a Day Only school for both Boys and
Girls that caters to Ordinary Students. Learning is carried out through a Kenyan Curriculum.
This document compiles the challenges that this school has been facing in the implementation of
e learning into its curriculum through the government’s tablet rollout program. As reported by
the standard newspaper- the government bought and delivered tablets to 21,637 primary schools
in Kenya. This number represents 99.6% of primary schools in Kenya. 1,168,798 tablets were
distributed to schools for use by grade 1-3 pupils.by 2020 about 1902 new schools had not yet
received the laptops due to budgetary constraints but they were due to receive them through the
ICT Authority. Despite all this when the pandemic hit there was no online learning continued as
the schools were closed down. Education Committee chair questioned why these tablets were not
being utilized when the corona virus pandemic caused learning challenges in schools. The
implementation of this project has been slow moving as it was supposed to start in 2013. A pupil
who was in class 1 at that time has already finished primary school by this time 2022 and yet the
project has not really kicked on as it has faced challenges left right and center. This paper seeks
to find a solution to overcome these challenges. The challenges faced at the school level will be
highlighted and solutions will be sought.
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ABSTRACT
A wider view of the problem shows that it stems up to the government level. Back in 2013, when
the current regime promised the equipment, it seemed almost like a pipe dream, and many people
questioned the feasibility and sensibility of such a project. Most of the schools were not
connected to the power grid, especially in the rural and remote areas. They required massive
infrastructure investment to bring power to the schools. To this end, the government embarked
on a project to bring electricity to schools and the communities around them, killing two birds
with one stone. As reported by nation newspaper- A report by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum
Development (KICD) revealed that, despite the fact that public schools had ICT facilities
supplied through the digital literacy programme, only a few use the tools in enhancing teaching
and learning. The report indicates that less than half of teachers, at 39 per cent, were using ICT
to enhance learning despite having the facilities and reliable power. “This was interpreted as
either unwillingness by teachers to integrate ICT in the learning process or a lack of capacity to
do it,” the report dated May 2018 reads. Due to these facts the project has faced a lot of criticism.
Former KNUT secretary was one of its biggest critics once saying that; When the late Kibera
Member of Parliament, Ken Okoth, launched Mbagathi Girls High school and had revealed that
the school was built from scratch at a cost of Sh. 48.2 million. This, therefore, means that for
each Ksh. 1 billion spent on the Digital Learning Project, 21 such kinds of schools would have
been constructed countrywide. The former KNUT Secretary General, Wilson Sossion, said
money spent in the DLP would have even hired enough teachers in the country considering the
over 50000 primary school teachers’ shortage in the country reported by the TSC. The effects of
the above mentioned situation have trickled down to the school level with teachers finding it
level to implement the project in the curriculum. Key resources needed for the running of the
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project at school level have not been delivered yet. Things like internet and electricity are
essential in ensuring the success of the project.
CASE FOR KAMENU PRIMARY SCHOOL
As like many primary schools Kamenu Primary School received the tablets but the teachers are
struggling to use them at the moment. There have been many challenges cited by the school one
of the obvious being that laptops are not enough for the pupils. The school has an upwards
population of 1500 pupils while the laptops allocated were 100. Currently the laptops are being
used for teaching grade 1 to 3 pupils. This means that the tablets have to be carried from class to
class so that all the pupils can get a taste of e learning. This exposes the tablets to risk of damage.
Some of the tablets that have already been damaged are put in a store as the government has not
done follow up to repair the damaged tablets. This means that not all the tablets delivered are
being utilized and this further reduces the tablet to pupil ratio in the school. Another problem
faced is that the teachers lack inadequate training. Yes, the teachers have been trained to use the
tablets but the problem comes in integrating the tablets to the curriculum of the school. What
needs to be taught with tablets and what doesn’t need tablets for the pupils to understand
concept. Fitting e learning into the curriculum is still one of the biggest challenges faced by the
project. Bureaucracy is also another problem. Consulting top officials about the project is
becoming a problem because the project is handled by the Ministry of Information,
Communication and Technology while the schools report to the Ministry of Education. This
means that the school can’t air the problems faced directly to the ministry of ICT which in turn
means that more time is taken in solving problems faced like teachers shortage. This is
considering that more teachers will be =retiring in the near future. Teachers also argue that
demonstrating what to do to the pupils while using the tablets possess a challenge. This could be
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solved by use of electronic display boards or projectors. This would make it easier for teachers to
demonstrate to the pupils what they are learning. Another challenge faced is lack of internet
connectivity within the school. The main purpose of implementing the digital literacy program in
Kenya was to allow pupils to be able to learn by using information from the world wide web.
Internet connectivity is a major problem facing the project currently. The tablets come with preloaded content but this content still needs to be updated constantly otherwise what would be the
difference between the tablets and books? Technology is growing at a remarkable pace
constantly changing with more information being added on the world wide web. What you found
yesterday in the internet is not the same thing you will find tomorrow as the information keeps
being updated constantly. There is a need to keep up with the changing nature of technology.
Also even though the school is connected to the electricity, this has come with its own
challenges. Charging the tablets uses electricity and this electricity has to be paid for. Footing the
electricity has become a challenge for the school as it deals with delayed funds from the Ministry
of Education. Another major problem faced also related to funding is insecurity. There have been
several attempts by burglars trying to break in to the schools store to steal the tablets. Though the
attempts have been unsuccessful, the school still has to deal with broken windows and doors
damaged during the break in attempts. Getting the funds for repairs is hard and sometimes
parents have to be involved when the situation becomes too bad considering the school has other
expenses like water bills and salary for the security guards.
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SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
The problems are all rooting from the government. The government has tried to micromanage
everything and it has proven to be impossible to do that. One of the solutions I would suggest is
used of computer labs instead of the tablets. The schools should be given funds to build their
own computer labs that fit in with their requirements which is easier than trying to micromanage
everything. Also adequate training for the teachers is needed in order to be able to fit the e
learning into the curriculum. In terms of the tablets the government should subcontract a
company that is specialized in online learning which would offer the best solutions to the
challenges faced. An example is BRCK company which offers the Kio kit. The Kio Kit is an allin-one solution for the digital education platform. It is a simple and elegant solution made up of
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40 Kio tablets, earphones and wireless charging capability for the tablets. All these are bundled
up in a hardened, water-resistant and lockable case that instantly provides for a digital classroom.
BRCK, an engineering and design company based in East Africa, has developed a solution.
BRCK, founded in 2013, focuses on digital solutions that are specific to African infrastructure.
The company was named one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Genius Companies in 2018. BRCK’s Kio
Kit project was launched in 2015 and consists of a set of forty tablets and a Wi-Fi router that can
connect to web content. Kio Kit tablets charge wirelessly, either by connection to a power source
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or by solar power, and can run for 8 hours on a charge, meaning they can still be used when
electricity is unreliable.
The Kio Kit has a single plug for power and one button used to power on the entire system.
Another key thing to note is that the Kio Kit can also use solar energy in areas that do not have
electricity. In less than a minute after powering on the kit, the students can access and use the
content on their Kios. Even when the power goes out, the Kio is capable of running for 8 hours,
which is enough to cover a whole school day. Content is stored locally, eliminating the over
dependence on the internet, which is then provided on the tablets.
This device feels and looks very sturdy. It has a beautiful and simple design and it is the perfect
size for the kids’ little hands. It comes with preloaded education software that is centered on 3
modules/tabs that is, Learn, Play and Grow. At first glance, the UI looks beautiful, colorful and
easy to use and navigate. With content coming from various providers Kenyatta University,
Pearson, Intel-Education, e-Limo, Know Zone and e-Kiambu, kids get the chance to do quizzes,
watch educational videos and get general information on various topics.
The Kio Kit also offers security for the Kios. At the end of the day, the Kios are put back in the
Kio Kit which is then locked up and placed in a secure location. Other than the physical security
provided for by the Kio Kit, the Kios also have geo- fencing security feature, meaning that they
can only work in a certain specified geographical area. Furthermore, the firmware cannot be
flashed or overridden, adding to its security.
This company provides solutions to most of the problems faced by the government in
implementing the digital literacy program like power and follow up on damaged devices and also
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insecurity and internet. If the government could subcontract such a company with readymade
solutions which could make it easier to implement the project.
CONCLUSION
Digital literacy is an important project that will help pupils get digital skills and incorporate
technology in learning. This is in line with the current world that relies heavily on technology
and technology is constantly growing. This will help the country keep up with the rest of the
world technology wise. Today very important for the growth of a country. The implementation
of the project though has been hitting roadblocks which could be avoided if the government
subcontracted other companies to perform the work.
REFERENCES
.”https://borgenproject.org/kio-kit-a-classroom-in-a-box-in-rural-africa/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/amp/ed
ucation/article/2001383341/12-million-tablets-delivered-toschools&ved=2ahUKEwjCyuO4kZT2AhXCvKQKHcUDC6YQFnoECCQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw10kzxtmviuoy3Pu
PYlwVd1e
https://nation.africa/kenya/news/big-hurdles-thwart-jubilee-s-laptops-plan-69972?view=htmlamp
https://www.engineeringforchange.org/solutions/product/kio-kit/
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