It is late morning in Namoruputh Primary School in Turkana, hot and dusty despite the wintertime. Behind a classroom, a large satellite dish has been installed, surrounded by a makeshift fence of thorny branches, gathered from the bushes that punctuate the sandy ground.
Inside, Teacher Mwangangi begins an unusual science lesson. He draws a diagram of a flower on the blackboard, but instead of telling the children the names of the parts of the flower, or handing out a textbook, he asks them to Google it.
The children bend over their distinctive lime-coloured tablets, searching for images with the right information. Cecilia Akai, 13, raises her arm “Teacher, teacher,” she says. He gives her a chalk and she walks to the board, where she writes ‘stigma’ on the correct part of the flower.
It is a more interactive scene than traditional Kenyan primary school lessons and the children are obviously enthusiastic. “When the Internet was connected, I was very happy and eager to know how to use it,” Cecilia says.
“I prefer using the tablet to a textbook. It’s quicker and easier to use. I also like to watch videos of comedians. At home, I able to help my mother use the Internet on her phone.”
Her friend James Lokeny, 15, agrees. “After the Internet was installed, I was able to learn many more things,” he says. “I can find out what’s happening now in Kenya and look at maps and videos. I’ve been able to learn more on topics like engineering and wildlife. When I grow up, I would like to become an engineer because there are very few in this country.”
Namoroputh Primary School is one of 110 schools connected to the Internet since 2020 by Unicef, the Government of Kenya and partners, through the GIGA partnership. This has already provided Internet access for around 40,000 children, with the goal of connecting all schools by 2030. The government has provided more than 1 million tablets to public primary schools, which can also be used to access the latest lessons from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
“A modern education should rebuild the basic skills that have been lost during school closures – maths, reading and writing – as well as developing the skills in problem solving, creativity and critical thinking that young people need to forge successful careers,” Unicef Kenya’s chief of education Marilyn Hoar comments.
“Here in Kenya, the new Competency Based Curriculum will provide school children with many of these skills including digital literacy, but we also need more teachers and more schools connected to the Internet. We believe that digital learning should be part of a basic package of essential services for every child.”
