<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=windows-1252"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<div id="comment_top_27336041" class="commentTop newcomment">Why is
FOSS more appealing to tech entrepreneurs? <br>
<div class="title">
<h4><a id="comment_link_27336041" name="comment_link_27336041"
href="http://ask.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1175723&cid=27336041"
onclick="return D2.setFocusComment(27336041)">Re:Use the big vendors
to assist</a> <span id="comment_score_27336041" class="score"> (<a
href="http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/25/2020226#"
onclick="getModalPrefs('modcommentlog', 'Moderation Comment Log', 27336041); return false">Score:4</a>,
Interesting)</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="details"> <span class="by">by <a
href="http://slashdot.org/%7EBert64">Bert64 (520050)</a></span> <span
class="otherdetails" id="comment_otherdetails_27336041"> <<a
href="mailto:bert%40sla+s+h+d+o+t.firenzee.com">bert@sla s h d o
t.firenzee.com</a>> on Wednesday March 25, @06:28PM (<a
href="http://ask.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1175723&cid=27336041">#27336041</a>)
<small><a href="http://www.ev4.org/" title="http://www.ev4.org/"
class="user_homepage_display">Homepage</a> </small>
</span> </div>
</div>
<div class="commentBody">
<div id="comment_body_27336041">
<p>Vendors should really rethink this...<br>
</p>
<p>Whatever they sell, they will have to support anyway...<br>
</p>
<p>If
they sell an MS product they might get 6%, but if they sell OSS then
they get 100% of whatever they sell it for... OSS isn't about zero
cost, it's about freedom to use and modify the code in any way you
choose. You can sell the OSS products for 7% of the cost of the MS
products and still make more money off them....<br>
</p>
<p>It's win win for
ISVs really, if the client wants to pay for something, let them pay for
OSS and you keep the whole cost, and it can still be a cheaper
option... If they don't want to pay then OSS is your only choice but
you can afford to give it away for free because you didn't pay for it
in the first place.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
Gakuru Alex wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:1981f3fd0907060402k6f2b3511i7b890408390e066f@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Granted, perhaps Evans meant to refer to "The Dutch
government moves for open source" <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9833905-16.html">http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9833905-16.html</a>
and "Dutch government moves ahead with plans to promote use of
open-source software" <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://news.theage.com.au/technology/dutch-government-moves-ahead-with-plans-to-promote-use-of-opensource-software-20071214-1gzj.html">http://news.theage.com.au/technology/dutch-government-moves-ahead-with-plans-to-promote-use-of-opensource-software-20071214-1gzj.html</a>><br>
<br>
And NO! this matter is not rested at all...<br>
<br>
Alex<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 10:39 AM, Victor
Gathara <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk">v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial"
size="2"><span>Evans</span></font></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial"
size="2"><span></span></font> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial"
size="2"><span>Your comment <i><font face="Times New Roman"><font
color="#000000" size="3">"In some developed countries like Germany and
UK, the policies are there and they clearly state that (in Government)
you can only buy proprietary software only if you cannot get a OSS
option to do what you need to do"</font></font> </i>is a
misrepresentation of UK government policy on OSS. </span></font></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial"
size="2"><span></span></font> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial"
size="2"><span>The Government’s policy is as follows: </span></font></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<ol>
<font color="#000000"><b>Open Source Software</b> </font>
<li><font color="#000000">The Government will actively and fairly
consider open source solutions alongside proprietary ones in making
procurement decisions, </font> </li>
<li><font color="#000000">Procurement decisions will be made on
the basis on the best value for money solution to the business
requirement, taking account of total lifetime cost of ownership of the
solution, including exit and transition costs, after ensuring that
solutions fulfil minimum and essential capability, security,
scalability, transferability, support and manageability requirements. </font>
</li>
<li><font color="#000000">The Government will expect those
putting forward IT solutions to develop where necessary a suitable mix
of open source and proprietary products to ensure that the best
possible overall solution can be considered. </font> </li>
<li><font color="#000000">Where there is no significant overall
cost difference between open and non-open source products, open source
will be selected on the basis of its additional inherent flexibility. </font></li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
<font color="#000000"><b>Non–Open Source Software</b> </font>
<li><font color="#000000">The Government will, wherever possible,
avoid becoming locked in to proprietary software. In particular it will
take exit, rebid and rebuild costs into account in procurement
decisions and will require those proposing proprietary software to
specify how exit would be achieved. </font> </li>
<li><font color="#000000">Where non open source products need to
be purchased, Government will expect licences to be available for all
public sector use and for licences already purchased to be transferable
within the public sector without further cost or limitation. The
Government will where appropriate seek pan-government agreements with
software suppliers which ensure that government is treated as a single
entity for the purposes of volume discounts and transferability of
licences. </font></li>
</ol>
<ol start="7">
<font color="#000000"><b>Open Standards</b> </font>
<li><font color="#000000">The Government will use open standards
in its procurement specifications and require solutions to comply with
open standards. The Government will support the development of open
standards and specifications. </font></li>
</ol>
<ol start="8">
<font color="#000000"><b>Re–Use</b> </font>
<li><font color="#000000">The Government will look to secure full
rights to bespoke software code or customisations of commercial off the
shelf products it procures, so as to enable straightforward re-use
elsewhere in the public sector. Where appropriate, general purpose
software developed for government will be released on an open source
basis. </font> </li>
<li><font color="#000000">Where the public sector already owns a
system, design or architecture the Government will expect it to be
reused and that commercial arrangements will recognise this. Where new
development is proposed, suppliers will be required to warrant that
they have not developed or produced something comparable, in whole or
in part, for the public sector in the past, or where they have, to show
how this is reflected in reduced costs, risks and timescale. </font> </li>
<li><font color="#000000">When suppliers are proposing a third
party product there should be full price transparency. If there is a
pan–Government agreement there should be the option to source through
this where doing so would maximise overall public sector value. The
Government will expect to be charged only the cost the supplier incurs
unless the supplier can clearly and transparently provide evidence of
the additional value created. </font></li>
</ol>
</div>
<span></span><font color="#0000ff"><font face="Arial"><font size="2">Victor<span></span></font></font><br>
</font>
<div dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us"><font color="#888888"> </font></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 7/3/09, <b
class="gmail_sendername">Evans Ikua</b> <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ikua@lpakenya.org" target="_blank">ikua@lpakenya.org</a>>
wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">As
far as the policy goes, I beg to disagree with Dr Ndemo. Its good to
have a policy that makes the playing field level. That is a good start
and that is the basic minimum that should be expected. On the other
hand, its very important to understand that for the sake of the
interests of a country, its important to have a policy that supports
what we believe is good for us. If we are all convinced that OSS is
good for us, then there is no-one to stop us from having a policy that
supports OSS very openly. Too bad if some Proprietary software houses
will not like it. But we must learn to protect our national interests
agressively. The many countries in Europe and the rest of the world
have gone this direction and they are enjoying the benefits of OSS. <u>In
some developed countries like Germany and UK, the policies are there
and they clearly state that (in Government) you can only buy
proprietary software only if you cannot get a OSS option to do what you
need to do.<br>
</u><br>
As for the MoE, its very hard to penetrate to them as some of us have
learnt. At the same time, the OSS advocates we have in this country (us
included) have very limited capacities as we do not receive any funding
from anyone. This is one of the handicaps that OSS advocacy has. We
volunteer our resources (time and money) and have to compete with
software companies that are supported by Marketing budgets that run
into the Billion Dollars.<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
<span>Evans Ikua<br>
Linux Professional Association of Kenya<br>
Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831<br>
Eagle House, 2nd Floor<br>
Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.lpakenya.org/"
target="_blank">www.lpakenya.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
</span>
<div><span>Quoting <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>:<br>
<br>
</span></div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><span>Prof. Waema,<br>
A good policy levels the play ground. What each party (Proprietary or<br>
OSS) does should not concern policy. That is why we need the
procurement<br>
rules change to give everybody an equal chance.<br>
<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Bwana
Sang,<br>
<br>
You have a point. We do not have strong OSS champions, especially in the<br>
public sector - at least not as powerful as the evangilists for<br>
proprietary<br>
software. This situation is not helped by a non-committal policy. Let me<br>
chew over how we can change things.<br>
<br>
Mwololo<br>
<br>
<br>
On 6/30/09, Barnabas K. Sang <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bksang@education.go.ke" target="_blank">bksang@education.go.ke</a>>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br>
Tim,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I agree with you to some extent, that we all need revision of the<br>
current<br>
ICT Policy to accommodate the key issues Kenya currently is focusing on.<br>
On<br>
OSS, I still doubt capacity of “*OSS Champions*” on the issue having<br>
observed in the past one year, how an opportunity to have 210 secondary<br>
schools each equipped with 25 PCs and use both proprietary software and<br>
OSS<br>
(Funds provided for) progressed.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
To date, no OSS proponents have brought any concept on how MOE can<br>
facilitate the adoption and use of OSS. There are some brilliant OSS<br>
solutions, particularly supporting teaching and learning (animated<br>
content<br>
-> good for illustrations of difficult concepts in some subjects) and<br>
development of content for use by all education and training<br>
stakeholders<br>
(teachers, students, parents and researchers).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I would like to acknowledge existence of sufficient leadership (policy<br>
and<br>
managers) to support modernization of education (ICT integration to<br>
teaching<br>
and learning). We may not have all necessary capacity yet for<br>
decision-makers to guide the process, but in partnership with all<br>
stakeholders, I believe OSS will definitely find a niche in the whole<br>
ICT<br>
integration exercise being spearheaded by MOE. Perhaps people like<br>
yourself<br>
and others in this network, could enlightened us on how OSS could be<br>
part of<br>
ICT integration efforts at an early stage as possible.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Kind Regards<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
B. K. Sang<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
*From:*<br>
kictanet-bounces+bksang=<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://education.go.ke/" target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/"
target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>[mailto:<br>
kictanet-bounces+bksang <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>=<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://education.go.ke/" target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>]
*On Behalf Of *Mwololo Tim<br>
*Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2009 8:02 AM<br>
*To:* Barnabas K. Sang<br>
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack<br>
an accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Listers,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open source software (OSS). As<br>
we<br>
think of a review of this policy, which according to me is due due to a<br>
number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many other developments), we<br>
should<br>
think seriously about a section on OSS policy.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
tim mwololo<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 6/29/09, *Evans Ikua* <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ikua@lpakenya.org" target="_blank">ikua@lpakenya.org</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
There is also Camara Kenya (the local office of <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://camara.ie/" target="_blank">camara.ie</a>)
that has done<br>
tremendous work in the area of putting hardware in schools, both Primary<br>
and<br>
Secondary, installing open source software, supporting them, and<br>
training<br>
the teachers. This in a short period of time.<br>
<br>
Their work has mainly been in the coast region but they are also getting<br>
into the hinterland. They have about 150 volunteers from Ireland who<br>
have<br>
just come in and they will conduct trainings for about a month.<br>
<br>
They have equipped schools in the whole of Lamu island, and many schools<br>
at<br>
the coast.<br>
<br>
They are achieving much more by using FOSS as a computer installed with<br>
Linux gives much more to a student as opposed to one installed with<br>
Windows.<br>
Because they are not spending a penny on software licenses, they are<br>
able to<br>
supply like twice the number of PCs than if they were to have the<br>
schools<br>
buy licenses.<br>
<br>
Ikua<br>
<br>
--<br>
Evans Ikua<br>
Linux Professional Association of Kenya<br>
Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831<br>
Eagle House, 2nd Floor<br>
Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.lpakenya.org/"
target="_blank">www.lpakenya.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Quoting Walubengo J <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>>:<br>
<br>
forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel Khisa<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke"
target="_blank">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a>><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
From: Emmanuel Khisa <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke" target="_blank">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a>><br>
Subject: RE: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an<br>
accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
To: "'Walubengo J'" <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 AM<br>
<br>
And Project Discovery Kenya has been able to train more that 200 primary<br>
school teachers over the last five years in conjunction with Institute<br>
of<br>
Software technologies...I also know that similar training went on in<br>
Yala<br>
Division last April for Primary school teachers in the division<br>
organised<br>
by<br>
the Computers for Schools.<br>
On the subject of lack of adequate professors, I will leave that to<br>
Academicians and those keen on interrogating academics, I however would<br>
like<br>
the ICT training to move from over concentration with the academics and<br>
more<br>
to the more handson...more like incubator based learning<br>
approach...While<br>
the Far East economies have good universities, they still put more<br>
premium<br>
on handson skills...It is sad that even our graduate engineers let alone<br>
IT<br>
graduates (who by the way take a lot of flack) cannot invent or think<br>
outside the box...I mean no invention ever comes out of these highly<br>
restricted courses yet only a select few universities dare to venture<br>
into...<br>
<br>
The answer in my opinion lies in building skills that are more practical<br>
and<br>
focussed on creating entrepreneural opportunities.<br>
<br>
Rgds,<br>
<br>
Manu<br>
<br>
"New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any<br>
other<br>
reason but because they are not already common."<br>
P Before printing, think about the Environment and your responsibilities<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://kadet.co.ke/" target="_blank">kadet.co.ke</a>@<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/"
target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
[mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa" target="_blank">kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa</a><kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa><br>
=<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://kadet.co.ke/" target="_blank">kadet.co.ke</a>@<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/"
target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>] On<br>
Behalf Of Walubengo J<br>
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM<br>
To: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke"
target="_blank">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a><br>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an<br>
accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
<br>
<br>
I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching<br>
fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80 high<br>
school<br>
headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving them<br>
basic<br>
ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such<br>
trainings<br>
regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in the<br>
right direction.<br>
<br>
As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the<br>
statistics<br>
are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in<br>
this<br>
country on your three fingers ;-)<br>
<br>
walu.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bksang@education.go.ke" target="_blank">bksang@education.go.ke</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
From: Barnabas K. Sang <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bksang@education.go.ke" target="_blank">bksang@education.go.ke</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an<br>
<br>
accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
<br>
To: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com"
target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Betty,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks for your response on the article<br>
mentioned below. Will go<br>
through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which<br>
ICT in Education has<br>
already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all<br>
of us have or may be<br>
persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
?ICT Integration? is currently Ministry<br>
of Education focus, and<br>
steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya<br>
improve both teaching and<br>
learning environment, with better education ?products?<br>
across all levels.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Kind regards<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
B. K. Sang<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
From:<br>
kictanet-bounces+bksang=<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://education.go.ke/" target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/"
target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
[mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang" target="_blank">kictanet-bounces+bksang</a>
<kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>=<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://education.go.ke/"
target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>]<br>
On<br>
Behalf Of Betty Ogange<br>
<br>
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM<br>
<br>
To: Barnabas K. Sang<br>
<br>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
<br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality<br>
- We lack an<br>
accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Hallo David,<br>
Last week there was furore in this forum<br>
about media<br>
misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article<br>
that you make<br>
reference to in today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be<br>
accurate in the areas that<br>
you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with<br>
a few points raised<br>
in the article.<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316"
target="_blank">http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316</a><br>
<br>
<br>
?Unlike other academic fields, very<br>
little has been done<br>
to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no<br>
primary teacher training<br>
college offers comprehensive pre-service training in<br>
information technology.?<br>
<br>
Anyone with a modest interest in education in<br>
Kenya would not<br>
miss something as obvious as a subject in the national<br>
curriculum when reporting<br>
in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few<br>
colleges had ICT skills<br>
courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house<br>
curricula that were<br>
independently developed by each college. The Primary<br>
Teacher Education (PTE)<br>
ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of<br>
Education has been in<br>
force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a<br>
compulsory subject in all<br>
primary teacher training colleges. It is examined<br>
internally at the end of<br>
the first year and all students must pass in the subject,<br>
among other<br>
subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are<br>
several<br>
implementation hitches in this programme arising from the<br>
fact that ICT is<br>
being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and<br>
has yet to be<br>
mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum.<br>
The debate around<br>
ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to<br>
operationalise it right<br>
from curriculum development to classroom level<br>
implementation continues in<br>
the education circles.<br>
<br>
?In-service training is often<br>
provided by trainers who<br>
are just barely literate in<br>
computers?<br>
<br>
In my knowledge, this has happened especially<br>
in instances when<br>
some hardware providers ?dangle? teacher training as<br>
an additional offer to<br>
the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to<br>
teach the course, but<br>
in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has<br>
posted trained<br>
lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also<br>
been some highly<br>
professional training offered to college lecturers by<br>
Microsoft (in<br>
conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology -<br>
IAT) and the Kenya<br>
Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya<br>
and the Nepad<br>
e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached<br>
teachers in selected<br>
secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the<br>
rest of the ICT<br>
initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets<br>
and time-lines have<br>
compromised continuity and impact of some of these<br>
training programmes.<br>
<br>
?The<br>
entire ICT education is in tatters?<br>
An interesting analogy there. But I see a<br>
sector that is struggling<br>
with what some scholars in educational reform have called<br>
an ?implementation<br>
dip? ? that for a number of reasons things normally<br>
tend to get worse before<br>
they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in<br>
implementing large<br>
scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over.<br>
In our country,<br>
there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of<br>
Education, the KIE and a<br>
number of stakeholders in education, and these do count.<br>
On the other hand,<br>
there has been the tendency (by education leaders)<br>
towards elaborate policy<br>
documents, ?ICT networks? and trust funds whose<br>
mandates remain<br>
indeterminate. All these need to be researched and<br>
accurately presented.<br>
<br>
Accurate reporting by the media and objective<br>
analysis of both<br>
the positives and difficulties are important in helping<br>
the public target<br>
their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the<br>
use of expressions<br>
such as ?in tatters? ?the situation is bad?,<br>
?alarmed professionals?<br>
?obsolete hardware? to describe ICT in education in<br>
Kenya sounds to me fairly<br>
sensational.<br>
<br>
Betty<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com"
target="_blank">otwomad@gmail.com</a>><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
<br>
From: David Otwoma <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com" target="_blank">otwomad@gmail.com</a>><br>
<br>
Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We<br>
lack an accreditation<br>
system for ICT courses<br>
<br>
To: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ogange@yahoo.com"
target="_blank">ogange@yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions"<br>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
<br>
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM<br>
<br>
<br>
.....universities<br>
offer many degrees but their quality and market demand<br>
differ......<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Although<br>
nearly all universities offer degrees, only the<br>
University of Nairobi, Jomo<br>
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and<br>
Strathmore have<br>
Master?s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at<br>
doctoral level.<br>
<br>
<br>
There<br>
is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT<br>
departments. According to<br>
Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time<br>
lecturers with PhDs<br>
in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three<br>
of six, which is the<br>
same number for Strathmore.<br>
<br>
<br>
Kenyatta<br>
University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD<br>
or an equivalent<br>
qualification, while none of the Kabarak?s eight<br>
lecturers have a PhD. Two of<br>
six of United States International University has<br>
doctoral degrees.<br>
<br>
<br>
Many<br>
lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as<br>
engineers, software<br>
developers or in the emerging area of computer and<br>
network security.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
See<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316&"
target="_blank">http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316&</a><br>
<br>
for full story<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
<br>
David Otwoma,<br>
<br>
Chief Science Secretary,<br>
<br>
National Council for Science and Technology,<br>
<br>
Utalii House 9th Floor,<br>
<br>
Mobile tel: +254 722 141771,<br>
<br>
Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915,<br>
<br>
P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya<br>
<br>
email: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com"
target="_blank">otwomad@gmail.com</a> & <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:otwoma@ncst.go.ke" target="_blank">otwoma@ncst.go.ke</a><br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.ncst.go.ke/"
target="_blank">www.ncst.go.ke</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke"
target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ogange@yahoo.com" target="_blank">ogange@yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke" target="_blank">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet</a><br>
.<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://co.ke/"
target="_blank">co.ke</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:timwololo@gmail.com" target="_blank">timwololo@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
----------------------------------------------<br>
This message has been scanned for viruses and<br>
dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is<br>
believed to be clean.<br>
---------------------------------------------<br>
"easy access to the world"<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------<br>
This message has been scanned for viruses and<br>
dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is<br>
believed to be clean.<br>
---------------------------------------------<br>
"easy access to the world"<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
</span></div>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ikua@lpakenya.org" target="_blank">ikua@lpakenya.org</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ikua%40lpakenya.org"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ikua%40lpakenya.org</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<div><span><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:timwololo@gmail.com" target="_blank">timwololo@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com</a><br>
</span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com" target="_blank">otwomad@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
David Otwoma,<br>
Chief Science Secretary,<br>
National Council for Science and Technology,<br>
Utalii House 9th Floor,<br>
Mobile tel: +254 722 141771,<br>
Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915,<br>
P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya<br>
email: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com"
target="_blank">otwomad@gmail.com</a> & <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:otwoma@ncst.go.ke" target="_blank">otwoma@ncst.go.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.ncst.go.ke"
target="_blank">www.ncst.go.ke</a><br>
<br>
________________________________________________________________________<br>
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The<br>
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive<br>
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.star.net.uk"
target="_blank">http://www.star.net.uk</a><br>
________________________________________________________________________<br>
<br>
DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British
Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more about the major
global poverty challenges and get the facts on what DFID is doing to
fight them: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk"
target="_blank">http://www.dfid.gov.uk</a> <br>
______________________________________________________________________<br>
<br>
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Peapod. The<br>
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive<br>
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.peapod.co.uk/cleanmail"
target="_blank">http://www.peapod.co.uk/cleanmail</a><br>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com">alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com"
target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a>
This message was sent to: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:murigi.muraya@gmail.com">murigi.muraya@gmail.com</a>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.com">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.com</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
</body>
</html>