Airtel enriches learning in deal to offer free Internet
Christian Turner, British High Commissioner interacts with a pupil during the launch of a digital hub at Kilimani Primary School on September 18, 2013. Bharti Airtel will offer free Internet connectivity to enable access to e-learning apps. Photo/DIANA NGILA
What you need to know:
The partnership will provide schools with monthly data bundles of up to 5GB for a three-year period.
The Sh5.9 billion (£43 million) program will see the development of 127 digital hubs in schools across nine countries in sub-Sahara Africa.
Airtel in partnership with British Council has unveiled a program where it will provide Kenyan schools with free Internet connectivity to assist learners and teachers access digital educational resources.
The partnership will provide schools with monthly data bundles of up to 5GB for a three-year period to assist them access e-learning apps by use of devices such as computers, laptops and tablets.
The Sh5.9 billion (£43 million) program will see the development of 127 digital hubs in schools across nine countries in sub-Sahara Africa.
These hubs are expected to act as ICT centres serving both students and the surrounding communities in a national project that is expected to bridge the technology gap in local schools.
“We provide teachers with high-quality, cost-effective professional development opportunities. Our digital ambassadors are now implementing ICT and innovative teaching practice in classrooms across the continent,” said Tony Reilly, British Council country director for Kenya.
The partnership between the two organisations has in the last three year’s seen sub-Saharan countries benefit from the British Council mainly through training to enable reliable teaching through the use of technology.
‘’With the hub, we have been able to reduce the amount of time we spend on lesson planning,’’ said Kilimani Primary School headteacher Mr Wasike.
The deal to provide learning institutions with high speed Internet will help stimulate demand for Airtel’s data bundles.
The move by Airtel to provide Internet connectivity to schools becomes the latest move by Kenyan IT firms to enter the education field ahead of the roll out of free laptops to Standard One pupils next year.
