By Jael Nyabuti
In an exciting move towards educational advancement in Turkana County, ten schools in Lodwar town have been selected to pilot a digital literacy project aimed at introducing creative coding and robotics to young learners.
This innovative project, designed to support the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), promises to transform the educational experience for students in this region.
The eight-month pilot programme, generously funded by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is a collaborative effort implemented by the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) and the M-Lugha Foundation.
Its primary objective is to bridge the digital divide in Turkana, especially in its arid and semi-arid regions, by equipping learners with essential digital skills.
The project will see the establishment of ICT clubs in the selected schools, targeting students in Grades 4-8.
These clubs will provide dynamic environments where students can engage with Scratch, a creative coding tool approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
During a recent two-day training session, ten ICT teachers from the selected primary schools were equipped with the skills necessary to lead this initiative.
Moses Korea, Chief Officer of Education, Social Protection, and Administration, emphasized the critical importance of digital literacy in today’s world, especially for regions with significant educational gaps.
“In the education stakeholders trilogy of digital devices, teachers, and content, the child should be at the center,” Korea remarked, pointing to the child-centric approach of the programme.
The digital literacy project is complemented by the EIDU initiative, which targets early childhood development.
This ensures a continuous and comprehensive approach to enhancing ICT knowledge among learners from a young age, preparing them for future educational challenges and opportunities.
Frontier Counties Development Councils, Education and Governance Sector Lead, Abdullahi Maalim, underscored the project’s focus on sustainability, with the potential scalability.
This forward-thinking approach aims to create a model that can be expanded to other regions, amplifying its impact.
Turkana County Teacher Service Commission Director, Sammy Loitakol, encouraged participating teachers to utilize their newfound knowledge not only to educate their students but also to share insights with their colleagues.
“Even as you educate the learners, also improve your lesson presentation to have more impact,” he advised.
County ICT Officer Washington Odoyo praised the project for its potential to equip learners with crucial digital skills necessary in today’s fast-evolving world. He noted that such initiatives are vital in preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven society.
The digital literacy pilot project marks a significant milestone in the quest to enhance educational outcomes in Turkana.
By fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and technological proficiency among young learners, this initiative promises to pave the way for a brighter, more digitally literate future.
As the project unfolds over the coming months, it will not only transform the educational experience for students in Lodwar but also serve as an inspiring model for similar initiatives across Kenya and beyond.