Library boosts slum pupils’ learning with tablet computers

• KNLS has partnered with eLimu, an education foundation, in a pilot project that will give children from selected primary schools in the slum a chance to visit the library on rotational basis where experts from the two institutions would train them on the use of the computers.
• The pupils will use the tablets to revise their class work and participate in discussions and exercises with the support of eLimu experts who are on site to support the tablet learning project offered at Kibera Community Library.
• The tablets have been loaded with educational materials and will be initially restricted to Class Seven and Eight pupils but will be eventually rolled out to other classes.
• Ten primary schools in Nairobi have been selected for the programme, which targets pupils from Kibera slums.
• eLimu will provide the content to be uploaded on to the tablets in a partnership with Moran Publishers.
• Electronic Information For Libraries Network, international organisation based in Europe with a global network of partners, is funding the project.
• The first five schools initially selected to benefit from the programme include Lang’ata West Primary School, Anajali Primary School, St Christine Primary School, Soweto Academy and Soda Academy.

Under-privileged children from Kibera in Nairobi, are set to benefit from a programme that will give them weekly access to tablet computers to familiarise themselves with the technology.

The Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) has partnered with eLimu, an education foundation, in a pilot project that will give children from selected primary schools in the slum a chance to visit the library on rotational basis — on Saturdays — where experts from the two institutions would train them on the use of the computers.

“The idea behind it was to give the pupils from the disadvantaged background a touch of technology and to introduce to them the concept of using the tablet content at an early age,” said Omar Abdi, an officer at KNLS. “We chose Kibera after looking at the situation on the ground and found out that most children from the area have no opportunity to get access to this key technology that will help them now and later in life.”

The initiative known as Kids on the Tab is the first of its kind to be offered by the national library, which has 59 branches.

The pupils will use the tablets to revise their class work and participate in discussions and exercises with the support of eLimu experts who are on site to support the tablet learning project offered at Kibera Community Library.

The tablets have been loaded with educational materials and will be initially restricted to Class Seven and Eight pupils but will be eventually rolled out to other classes.

eLimu, an educational foundation based in Kenya will provide the content to be uploaded on to the tablets in a partnership with Moran Publishers.

“The tablets will be uploaded with content approved by Kenya Institute of Education. To date, we have uploaded content from the science subjects,” Isaac Kinyanjui, the eLimu curriculum development manager told the Business Daily. “By the end of the month, we hope to have completed uploading the rest of the content in the curriculum.”

Five pupils picked from 10 primary schools in the pilot the programme will initially benefit.

The Class Seven pupils will be expected to do tests during the first Saturday of each month based on the subjects learnt in order for the facilitators assess the impact of tablet computers on learning.

Depending on the availability of the funds, more schools will be involved in the programme from January.

Electronic Information For Libraries Network, international organisation based in Europe with a global network of partners, is funding the project.

The organisation’s preferred route of channelling funds is through working with libraries to enable access of digital information mainly in developing countries.

“Our aim is to have every child access the tablets but the scope of our reach will depend on the availability of money since such a project is capital-intensive,” said Mr Kinyanjui.

The first five schools initially selected to benefit from the programme include Lang’ata West Primary School, Anajali Primary School, St Christine Primary School, Soweto Academy and Soda Academy. Another five schools will be selected once the first group of 25 pupils is trained.