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“MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - LEADERSHIP AND VISION FOR 21 ST CENTURY E- LEARNING”. KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE CABINET SECRETARY, PROF. JACOB KAIMENYI, PhD, FICD, EBS, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL E-LEARNING

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  1. “MINISTRYOFEDUCATION,SCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY -LEADERSHIPANDVISIONFOR21STCENTURYE-LEARNING” KEYNOTEADDRESSBYTHECABINETSECRETARY,PROF.JACOB KAIMENYI,PhD,FICD,EBS,MINISTRYOFEDUCATION,SCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGYDURINGTHE2014INTERNATIONALE-LEARNING INNOVATIONSCONFERENCEANDEXPOHELDATSAFARIPARK HOTEL-NAIROBIFROM29TH-31STJULY2014. ThepanelChair, Discussants, PolicyMakers, Leadersinindustry, Distinguishedinvitedguests, Conferenceorganizers LadiesandGentlemen, Itissuchaspecialprivilegeandhonourtobeinvitedhereforthe2014 InternationalE-learningInnovationsConferenceandExpohereatSafari ParkHoteltoshareourexperiencesandknowledgeinthedevelopment andutilizationofcuttingedgetechnologyandhowthistechnologycan bringaboutdesirededucationaltransformation. Page|1

  2. “Educationistheonlybusinessstilldebatingtheusefulnessoftechnology.”“Educationistheonlybusinessstilldebatingtheusefulnessoftechnology.” -RodPaige,formerU.S.SecretaryofEducation(2002). Thisquoteaptlyprovidesapreambletothecurrentdebateontechnology andencapsulatesthereasonswhywearegatheredheretoday.Istrongly believethatthisforumispreciselyconvenedtodiscussonhowmodern technologyande-learningcanbeusedtoleverageprovisionofquality education. LadiesandGentlemen,allowmetoposesomequestionstoenableusput issuesofe-learninginitsproperperspective. WhyisittakinguslongerhereinAfrica(orKenya)toembrace technologyineducation? Whyisitthatwehavewholeheartedlyembracedtechnologyin business,health,communicationamongothersectorsyetwe becomejitterywhentechnologyisappliedineducation? Isitthatwehavemisconceptionsaboutimpactoftechnologyon education? Page|2

  3. WhydowehavelesssuccessstoriesfromAfrica,whilein comparisontheEasternTigersarescoringhighlyinthissector? Thisisthereforetheveryreasonwhysuchforumgathersagroupoflike- mindedpolicymakers,driversofindustry,academiciansaswellas practitionerstodeliberateonfundamentalissuesofaccess,relevanceand qualityofeducation.Thegistofthematterishowtoleverageon technologytoachievedesirededucationaloutcomes. Iamaware,thatdiscussionone-learningelicitsalotofdebateamong scholarsandpolicymakersastowhetheritcomprisesonthequalityof educationoffered.Itisafactthate-learningnotonlychangestheway curriculumisdesignedanddeliveredbutmorefundamentally,itisa completeparadigmshiftfromourtraditionalunderstandingofeducationin aprofoundway.Theyearningforeducationalreformshasalways dominatedacademicdiscourseasexemplifiedbythelateuniversityDon andphilosopherProf.JohnDewey,aproponentofeducationalreform Page|3

  4. whosefuturisticstatementhasstoodthetestoftime;“Ifweteachtodayaswhosefuturisticstatementhasstoodthetestoftime;“Ifweteachtodayas wetaughtyesterday,werobourchildrenoftomorrow.” Insuchaforum,weshouldnotfeartowadeintothisdebateoftechnology ande-learningineducationasithelpsustodemystifymythsand falsehoodsthatourchildrenorschoolsarenotreadyfortechnology.We shouldfocusoureffortstappingintotheimmensepotentialinherentineach ofourchildrentobegreatinnovatorsandcreatorsofknowledgegiven equalopportunitiesprovidedbytechnology. Thebenefitsofeducationcannotbeoveremphasized!TheAfricanUnionin itsstrategicplanfor2006-2015acknowledgedthat: “Educationformsthebasisfordevelopinginnovation,scienceand technologyinordertoharnessourresources,industrializeandparticipate intheglobalknowledgeeconomyandforAfricatotakeitsrightfulplacein theglobalcommunity.” Page|4

  5. Ican’tagreemorewiththisboldpronouncementbytheAfricaUnionbutIcan’tagreemorewiththisboldpronouncementbytheAfricaUnionbut whatshouldbenotedasthegamechangeristheuseoftechnologyasthe basisforglobalcompetitiveness. LadiesandGentlemen,thecurrentGovernmentofwhichIserve recognizestheimportanceofInformationCommunicationTechnologyto thenationaldevelopment.Inthisregard,theGovernmenthastaken deliberatestepstoinvestinintegrationofICTincurriculumatalllevelsof educationbeginningfromearlychildhoodtohigherlevelsoflearning.This isquiteintandemwiththeKenyavision2030whichrecognizesthatanICT literateworkforceisthefoundationonwhichthenationwillbecomea knowledge-basedeconomy. Consequently,myMinistryhasbeenmandatedwiththeimplementationof oneofthekeyJubileeflagshipprojectofintegratingICTinprimary education,popularlycalledthe“laptopproject.”Thisisinrecognitionofthe factthateducationhasthepotentialtoequalizeandprovideachildfrom disadvantagedbackgroundtocompeteonanequalfootingwiththosewho Page|5

  6. areprivileged.Indeed,mostsuccessfulpeopleconfirmthefactthat educationtransformslivesandthisisillustratedbythestatementCEOof oneoftheleadingITfirms,thus: “Therearetwofundamentalequalizersinlife-theinternetandeducation.” -JohnChambers,CEOofCiscoSystem(1999). Inthesessionalpaper,Number14of2012,onReformingEducationand TrainingSectorsinKenya,myministryhasmadeafirmcommitmenttoa competencybasedteachingandlearningthatpromotesacquisitionof21st Century skills and attitudes such as: criticalthinking, creativity, communication,collaborationandinnovation.Againstthisbackground,the governmentwillmakeeducationaplatformofequippingthenationwithICT skillsinordertocreateadynamicandprogressivesociety. Thesubjectofe-learningisclosetomyheart.E-learningisbreakingthe boundariesoflearningasitwastraditionallyunderstood.IndeedICTis providinguswithtoolsthatwereunimaginablejustafewyearsago.For instance; Page|6

  7. Anywhere,anytimelearning;thevirtualclasswhereateacherfrom anypartoftheworldcanteachstudentsinthemostfar-flungpartsof theglobeisnowareality.Learnerscanpursuetheirstudiesattheir convenienceandarenotlimitedbygeographyortimeconstraints. Theemergenceoftheinternetandlowcostofconnectivityhasledto easiersharingofinformation. SearchenginessuchasGoogle,Bing,yahooamongothersare enablingstudentstoundertakeresearchandfindanswerstotheir questions. Thereforethechallengeaheadofusaspolicymakersandeducatorsis howtoharnessandusethesetoolsconstructivelyandeffectivelyto empowerboththeeducatorandthelearner. Page|7

  8. LadiesandGentlemen,myministryhasidentifiedthefollowingstrategicLadiesandGentlemen,myministryhasidentifiedthefollowingstrategic pillarsforsuccessfulICTinvestmentineducation: ExistenceofapolicyframeworkthatsupportsICT Developmentofdigitalcontent ICTinfrastructureandconnectivity Buildingcapacityofthehumanresource Theabove4pillarsarecurrentlyguidingtheimplementationofthelaptop programmeinKenya.ThegovernmentprioritizedtheintegrationofICTin primaryeducationasacurriculumreformagendatoaddressaccess,equity andqualityofeducationdelivery.Towardsthisend,thegovernmenthas setasideand‘ringfenced’fundstobeusedfortheacquisitionofcomputing devicesforlearners,trainingofteachers,digitalcontentdevelopmentas wellasinfrastructurerefurbishmentofschools. LadiesandGentlemen,atthisjuncturemayIbringyoutospeedonthe statusoftheimplementationofICTintegrationinprimaryschools.Besides Page|8

  9. provisionofcomputingdeviceswhichhasbeentemporarilystoppedto awaittherulingofthecourt,goodprogresshasbeenachievedinother areas: Over3,000teachersarealreadytrainedastraineroftrainersfromall overtherepublictoundertakecascadetrainingofteachersatthe schoollevel.Over61,000teachersaretargetedinthisfinancialyear. WiththepartnershipoftheMinistryofEnergyandPetroleum,through RuralElectrificationAuthority,over10,157primaryschoolshave beenconnectedtothenationalgridwithanother600earmarkedfor connectiontosolarpower.Thegovernmenthascommittedtoensure allschoolsareconnectedtopowerbytheendofthisfinancialyear. DigitalcontentforstandardonehasbeenfinalizedbyKenyaInstitute ofcurriculumDevelopment(KICD)andreadyforpreloadingtothe laptopsonceprocurementprocessisconcludedsuccessfully. Automationofthedatamanagementtohelpthenationalofficeto keeptrackonuseandutilizationofICTtoolsinschoolsiscurrently ongoing. Page|9

  10. ThecabinethasestablishedaninstitutionalframeworktocoordinateThecabinethasestablishedaninstitutionalframeworktocoordinate theinter-ministerialmeetingsforsuccessfulimplementationofthis programme. Theministryiscurrentlyfacilitatingthevariousstakeholdersto establishlocalassemblyofcomputingdevicesleadingtoeventualfull scalemanufacturinginlinewiththeKenyaVision2030. LadiesandGentlemen,inadditiontotheaboveinformation,mayIalso informyouthatthevisionfortheMinistryinICTisalsotargetingother levels.Theseinitiativesinclude: I. EconomicStimulusProgramme Theprogrammetargetsabout200secondaryschoolsannually.Since theprogrammestarted3yearsago,over2,000secondaryschools havebeenequippedwithuniformICTpackagethatincludes;11 computers,alaptop,printerandinternetconnectivityforoneyear.It isalsonotedthatschoolsatthislevelmayoffercomputerstudiesas aspecialistsubjectwhichprovidesstudentstopursueacareerinIT athigherlevels. Page|10

  11. II. Science,TechnologyandInnovationAct,2013. The Act established theNationalCommissionforScience, TechnologyandInnovation(NACOSTI)assuccessoroftheNational CouncilforScienceandTechnology(NCST).NACOSTIthereforewill facilitatethepromotion,coordinationandregulationoftheprogressof Science,TechnologyandInnovation(ST&I)inthecountry. PartnershipsbetweenMOESTanddevelopmentpartners. III. Currently,theMinistryisengagingwithpartnerslikeSamsung, Microsoft,Intel,USAID,DFID,AFDBamongothersinpromotinge- learning.ForexampleinAprilthisyear,SamsungElectronicsltd togetherwiththeKoreanGovernmentdonatedaSolarPowered InternetSchool,a40ftcontainerwith25laptops,solarpanelsan powerstoragebatteriesforuseinAsalregionswhichdonothave accesstothenationalgrid. IwishtobrieflyhighlightsomeofthechallengesfacebytheMinistryin integrationofICTineducationatalllevelsoflearning: Page|11

  12. 1.Connectivity Apartfromthemajortownsincounties,thelastmile connectivityisachallenge,thusimpedingonenvisagedaccess toonlinelearning.Wearecallinguponpartnersinthisparticular sectortocomeforwardwiththeirproposalsinordertoaddress theopportunity. 2.CostofDevices Fore-Learningtotakeoffsuccessfully,itobviouslyrequireslow costandaccessiblecomputingdevices.Itisthereforeourhope thatthemanufacturerswillseizetheopportunityprovidedby theJubileeGovernmenttoestablishalocalassemblysoasto manufacturelowcostcomputingdevices.Thiswillaugerwell fortheeconomyandbuildcapacityofthelocalsintermofskills transfer. 3.Software Page|12

  13. Proprietarysoftwareandcontentisexpensiveandnot sustainableinthelongrun.TheMinistryisconsideringseveral optionsandiscurrentlyencouraginguseoftheOpen EducationalResources(OERs)whichoffergreateropenness. Inthisregard,throughthepartnershipwithUNESCO,the MinistryiscurrentlyimplementingapilotOERprojecttobuild capacityofourteacherstodesignanddevelopcontentwhichis relevantandlowcostthusreduceoverrelianceonthemore expensiveproprietarycontent. 4.Training Asnotedearlier,trainingisoneofourkeyprioritiesforboththe managementandteacherstouseICTmanagementand teachingandlearning.TheMinistryisencouragingthelocal traininginstitutionssuchasuniversities,Teachercollegesand TertiaryinstitutionstomakebasicICTskillsasoneofthe compulsorymodulestoenablethepre-serviceteachersto graduatefullyICTcompliant. Page|13

  14. Further,ouruniversitiesneedtoembracee-learningtobeabletocompeteFurther,ouruniversitiesneedtoembracee-learningtobeabletocompete favorablywithinstitutionsofhigherlearningfromothercountrieswhich currentlyoffermoreonlinecourses. Inconclusion,thisconferenceisthereforeimportantingivingthe stakeholdersacommonunderstandingoftheopportunitiesofferedbyICT, thepoliciesandstrategiesneededfortheefficientuseofICTbyeducation andtrainingsystemsandtheparadigmshiftrequiredforsuccessful integrationofICT. LadiesandGentlemen,the‘journey’towardsembracinge-learninginour contextbeganafewyearsagobutithasbeenslow.Wecalluponour stakeholdersandpartnerstowalkwithusinthisjourneyandhelpstoleap froginordertobeintandemwiththosecountrieswhohavealready advancedinICTuptakeinalltheirsectors. ThankyouforlisteningtomeandGodblessyouall! Page|14

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