Parents embrace online learning to keep learners busy over holidays

The December school holiday is usually long and challenging for both children and their parents, who are always trying to ensure they are enjoying their vacation and keep up with their studies.

This has not been easy for most parents as children if left unsupervised, may fall into peer pressure.

However, in Malindi, pupils at Learning Hub School have been able to balance vacation and studies using technology.

Nesher Omar, a Grade 6 learner at Learning Hub, is one of the pupils who not only enjoyed her holiday but was also busy studying online using the Century Tech platform.

Through the help of her mother, Charity Beduli, Omar was able to use Century Tech to do her homework, which has not only improved her performance in school but also boosted her morale for learning.

Journalists visited their home within the resort town and found out that each day she spares some time for homework and exploring the online technology being taught at school.

“Century Tech is an app that we use to do our homework. You can go to the app or go to Google to log in, you must have the password given by the school to log in,” she said.

Since the app was introduced, she said the application has helped her to learn more and improve her academic performance as she is now able to get better grades.

Before the app was introduced, Omar says she used to get 40 per cent in English but is now getting over 70 per cent.

“It helps me to understand new things and learn more in school. For example when the teacher asks you to read about parts of speech in English,  Century Tech can help you learn more about speech instead of text books which sometimes does not have all the information,” she said.

Omar said the technology is not what she relies on fully as at school she gets assistance from teachers on an area which is not clear.

When she gets home, Omar is normally relaxed and can concentrate on the platform as sometimes at school the environment is noisy, she said.

The pupil who is also passionate about conservation says she spends her time taking care of the trees she planted at home.

Her mother Beduli said Century Tech was introduced in school in 2022 and since then her daughter has really transformed for the better.

“We were called for a meeting to learn how it works but even before that meeting Omar would come home with her homework and ask for a laptop to do it,” she said.

Initially, she was skeptical about allowing her daughter to use the laptop due to the threats that come with technology nowadays, but with time, she realised it was helpful and just requires some supervision to see what the child is doing.

We found her mother supervising as Omar did her assignments quietly outside their house, just to ensure she does not venture to other unsafe sites on the internet.

Beduli said Century Tech helps her child answer questions and get the answers instantly, and even when there is an area she does not understand, the app will answer and help her understand.

She says the application has really helped her to gauge the level of understanding of her child and even the areas that need more emphasis.

“The system assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the child and give the homework through something they call the nuggets, so every child is grouped according to her strength,” she said.

Beduli said the platform concentrates on the weaknesses of the child and charts a path for her which helps her improve academically each day.

With the technology, she believes that parents can be able to gauge the performance of their children and understand their behaviour while ensuring they do not misuse the internet.

Further, she ensures instead of concentrating on the Century Tech all the time, her daughter also spares some time to read books and complete homework.

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