[kictanet] Ongeri Hurray on ICT Bus

Wed Mar 24 15:54:24 EAT 2010

I am right behind you. My suggestion and hope was for MP to be able to
decide to spend that funding for the best implementations in their
constituencies whether that is building telecenters, training centers,
equipping schools and of course the Rural Internet Kiosks. With 7 million
per constituency we would be able to build one main training center, equip
several schools, and implement a number of kiosks. This would be REAL ICT
for development that would be able to generate an income for the community
in addition to service provision and would be self sustaining.

Best,

Crystal

On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 10:40 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi,
>
> It seems that some sanity is coming into the education realm with the Hon.
> Minister Dr. Ongeri canceling the proposed ICT Bus project, I believe once
> bitten twice shy.
>
> The project was to cost Kes. 1.2  B with each bus costing Kes. 7 Million
> which equates to 171 buses that is roughly 24 buses per province this was
> surely another scan in the making.  I remember the MP of Kisumu Hon. Shabbir
> raising the issue of the buses and getting dismissed as a self seeking
> technology Neanderthal, lets hope this is the beginning of  sanity in the
> ICT arena, but if I was you I wouldn't hold my breath.
>
> I suspect that the concept of mobile computer labs was a thinking from the
> mobile library project but someone forgot that with a library the books are
> left behind.
>
> With Kes 7 million we could do much more than just a single bus with 20
> computer that requires a driver, insurance, service, generators, and many
> other thinks.
>
> Here is my suggestion on how the 7 million could be better utilised to meet
> the objectives.
>
> - 20% to be used for physical facilities (stone & mortar) - Kes. 1.4 M -
> This can build 150 sq m of classroom space inclusive of electrical wiring &
> burger proofed windows. An average computer lab is 15 sq m which means we
> can build 10 labs and each can accommodate 20 screens/pcs.  We could build
> even more labs if the Ministry if Housing provided the interlocking soil
> block making machines
>
> - 30% to be used for provision of power to the lab - Kes. 2.1 million we
> which we need to provide sufficient power.  The computers will need to be
> low power consumers therefore we use TFT screens and cpu sharing devices
> that allow 1 computer to be used simultaneously by 4 or more students.  With
> this our power requirement for each lab would be below 1,000 VA which can
> easily be supplied by a few solar panels and a battery bank.
>
> - 20% for the actual hardware - Kes. 1.4 M - DC powered computers, printers
> and GSM modem with a good proxy server to provide local caching.  This will
> also include structured cabling which will be done by the graduats of the
> kazi kwa Vijani initiative where they will have been offered technical
> training.
>
> -  20% teacher training - Kes. 1.4 M, even if we have them certified in
> ICDL we shall be able to train 66 teachers which would provide enough
> computer teachers.
>
> - 10% well I leave you to decide what to do with that, note that there are
> no recurrent costs such as drivers, diesel, electricity costs (God does not
> charge for solar, yet).
>
> The 10 labs can be used by the schools during the day and could be made
> available to the community in the evenings and as digital villages over the
> weekends where content can be generated, yes local content (ask me for
> details).
>
> Now that I have spend the equivalent of 1 bus to create 10 centers why
> won't we actually do this, because I did not factor in the feasibility study
> costs, 30%, seminars and workshops 50%, sitting allowances 20% and well
> nothing else to include as the preliminary costs have already consumed the 7
> million.
>
> Ongeri hurray but lets hope the money will not go to drinking water and
> writing materials for a bonding session.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
>
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-- 
Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni
Executive Director
Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
crystal at voicesofafrica.org
http://www.voicesofafrica.org/

Intersat Africa, Ltd
Rural Internet Kiosks
Project Coordinator
crystal.kigoni at intersat.ae

Twitter: VOA_Crystal
Skype: crystal.naliaka
Facebook group: Voices of Africa

"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
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