[kictanet] Govt: Children will not take laptops home
Odhiambo Washington
odhiambo at gmail.com
Mon Aug 12 21:17:41 EAT 2013
Thanks, Barnabas.
You have just mentioned the right name - Temba John (Project Manager at
MOE). Would it be possible for you to introduce Mr. Temba to this forum so
that he can help clear the air on some of these issues which are still
clouded in mystery. He must be have a very clear Project Guideline (or
whatever PMs call it) and this being a public project (it's funded by
taxpayers, I suppose) it does make sense to make the details of the project
public for scrutiny, right??
I am interested in knowing a few things:
1. What are the specs of the 'laptop'? I believe this is already known.
It's not like buying goat meat! This MUST be clear. We want
to know if the cost per unit is justified.
2. From (1), we can know the Power Requirements, which then leads to the
3rd & 4th questions
3. How are the laptops going to be powered? Is it going to be a
solar-powered system? Solar is better as we all know it's renewable.
From this, we can then estimate the cost factor for powering the units
for the number of hours they are supposed to run.
4. How is the content going to be driven? If the MOE have developed this
content, then for sure we should start talking about the OS
which is going to drive the laptops - and the security related to the
OS, if I may add.
5. How are the devices going to be secured? An interesting conversation
I've had with a member of this list introduced a very critical
angle to the project: We all know there are schools which don't even
have proper classrooms. These schools are not going to be asked to NOW
build a Computer Building (as I guess it will be called) to store the
laptops, right? All schools will need to have a facility that can support
the devices, in terms of power supply, networking and storage (if the
laptops will remain in the school).
It's important to know if a school with 150 kids in Standard 1 (3 streams
of 50 kids each) will get 150 laptops or perhaps there is a finite number
of laptops that are going to be given to every school. The saying that each
kid entering Std 1 will be given a laptop MUST be clarified - NOW. Suppose
we have 150 laptops in a school, how are they going to be used/stored? I
assume a laboratory (aka Computer Room). In this case then, it does make
sense for the govt to contract a company (one of the cement companies) and
an architectural company to design a prefabricated lab - complete with
power sockets, seats, network infrastructure to support the utilization of
the laptops. This prefabricated lab which meets certain standards can then
be supplied to ALL SCHOOLS as part of the laptop project. With standardized
features, we can then safely assume uniformity within the projects
implementation. This way no school will lag behind when the whistle is blow
my the match commissar (Kaimenyi) or when H.E. Commissions the laptop
project.
I believe members did get to see the following advert: http://goo.gl/zIrT7C.
I am curious about the inclusion of Printers and Projectors!!
*LOT No. Item Description Bid Security Amount (KES) *
1 Laptops 228,000,000
2 * Printers * 14,000,000
3 * Projectors * 20,400,000
What are the printers going to be used for? Why do we need printers if we
can have a paperless setup? Who will fund the running of the printers
(paper, toner, maintenance)??
And as if that is not enough, we have PROJECTORS! Now I seriously feel
something is amiss. Projectors for what purpose?? Can't they just use a
Smart Board? I believe even a 42" LCD Display connected to the teacher's
laptop is big enough for a classroom.
Anyway, my point is that with the publication of the Project Plan Document,
we can then all see how the jigsaw will fit together.
Where it falls short, we can all accept that there are limitations to
everything.
For avoidance of doubt, and to stop us from developing all sorts of
conspiracy theories, the document MUST (*not* should) be made public for
scrutiny.
On 12 August 2013 18:46, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> @Sang,
>
> True that. I do recall participating in the facilitation of the 5day ICT
> Strategy for Education a while back and it did envision what the
government
> is trying to do. However, reading from other Listers you might agree that
> the government has been sending out mixed "Policy level" signals that must
> be confusing to stakeholders (the Tech-Partners, the Teachers, The
Parents,
> The Content Publishers - just to name a few).
>
> I think CS Prof. Kaimenyi for Education (the process owner) must work with
> CS Dr. Matiangi for Min of ICT to deliver this thing successfully. The
> flip-flopping (e.g Laptop vs Tablet, Networked PCs vs No Networked PCs,
> Going home with device vs Locking them up, cost of Ksh26,000 through
8,000a
> nd most recently 15,000, etc) is not good PR.
>
> It betrays a project under seige by forces beyond the control of the
Cabinet
> Secretaries.
>
> my 2Coins of analysis.
>
> walu.
> enjoy Uasin Gishu - the land of champions.
>
> ________________________________
> From: Barnabas K. Sang <bsang at education.go.ke>
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 3:06 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Govt: Children will not take laptops home
>
> Dear colleagues,
>
> I want to assure all KICTAnet members that ICT Integration in Education
for
> Primary Schools in Kenya is on course. Retired President Kibaki launched
our
> first pilot in 2006 at Kikambala Primary School Kilifi.
>
> There has been a National ICT Strategy for Education and Training
developed
> in 2006 (where Walubengo and others facilitated its development), guiding
> ICT Integration in Education.
>
> Having participated in the design of the concept meant to guide laptop
> programme in Primary schools, I remember encouraging members in the forum
at
> Strathmore University to move quickly and approach all leaders on mode of
> distribution and use (whether to be used in lab model or use by kids as
> take-away device).
>
> There are a lot of intrigues surrounding the two approaches, some driven
at
> highest levels in Government. As such, I am confident that Dr. Mathiangi
and
> Prof. Kaimenyi are equal and listening to all positive criticism and
> suggestions.
>
> Today, I know the Ministry of Education was holding internal stakeholders
> forum (MOE's agencies, teachers heads association, unions etc.) and hope
> that is subsequent sessions, they will include industry experts.
Otherwise,
> professionals can book appointments with Temba John (Project Manager at
MOE)
> and have a presentation whenever possible.
>
> B. K. Sang
> Executive ICT & EGov, Uasin Gishu County
> Former CIO / Head of ICT Department MOE
> ________________________________
> From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+bsang=
education.go.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
> on behalf of Mark Mwangi [mwangy at gmail.com]
> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 2:39 PM
> To: Barnabas K. Sang
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Govt: Children will not take laptops home
>
> @wash The government exists with your taxes and support(again with taxes,
> patriotism blah blah blah.) It should thus be guided to the right path.
> Treating the government as an amorphous body that we have no real control
> over will leave Prof. Kaimenyi implementing horrendous things due to
> political pressure or rather tender pressure.
>
> As Kivuva says, it is rather strange that we are happy to sideline 7
> generations in favour of incoming class one students.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 at 2:32 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com>
wrote:
>
> As a community, lets advocate for the labs. There is no reason why a
class 2
> student should spend 7years in school without access to a terminal while a
> class 1 has 8 years of laptop access. Is common sense that scarce?
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva
> twitter.com/lordmwesh
> google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh
>
>
> On 12 August 2013 14:01, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The more they should just build LAB with terminal and let all children
> use the computers. It doesn't make sense to limit them to class 1.
>
> "Each device would cost Sh15,000 meaning the government could spend at
> least Sh15 billion in the first phase". From other news I've seen
> before, the govt (or their mouthpieces) did say these devices would
> cost KES 8,500 or thereabouts.
>
> From https://twitter.com/OleItumbi/status/346704000147664896, I can
> see there is a plan to build Labs, and it was in the budget.
>
> However, my question is still on the laptop. What is the _actual_ cost
> for a single unit?
>
>
>
> On 12 August 2013 13:21, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> The government now says schoolchildren would not be allowed to walk home
>> with laptops once they start using them from next year.
>>
>> Ministry of Education officials Monday told a stakeholders’ forum in
>> Nairobi
>> that lessons from other countries indicate there would be many cases of
>> lost
>> gadgets if school children are allowed to go home with them.
>>
>> http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1944834/-/vlrgegz/-/index.html
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>
https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%40gmail.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for
>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
> Nairobi,KE
> +254733744121/+254722743223
> "I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>
https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldafrica.com
>
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwangy%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Mark Mwangi
>
> markmwangi.me.ke
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
>
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
--
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121/+254722743223
"I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20130812/3212d3d8/attachment.htm>
More information about the KICTANet
mailing list