<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Sorry to respond on this a little bit too late. My question is whether whether there was any feasibility study carried out before allocation of funds to this "ICT Bus Projects." It would be prudent to share such a report with satakeholders. The sustainability of such a project could be questionable. If other strategic alternatives (including building computer labs in schools) were considered, then the reasons for making this choice (ICT Bus) would be of interest to share, even if it is meant to be for a quick fix solution. E-education/learning is definitly a very important area that needs to be given a priority and looked into more critrically. Providing ICT infrasructure to schools, using the state of the art technologies should be
considered, rather than buses without roads. </DIV>
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<DIV>Regrds</DIV>
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<DIV>Vitalis</DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> volunga@yahoo.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thu, March 25, 2010 5:39:31 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [kictanet] Ongeri Hurray on ICT Bus<BR></FONT><BR>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Hi,<BR><BR>I refuse to acknowledge the regional issues because I come from an in an industry that has no ethnicity or regional divide.<BR><BR>I plead with you stop selling yourself short by getting embroiled in political side shows, if we set out our objective and kept to the plan we can achieve what I have proposed and more.<BR><BR>Even if I asked you to volunteer to go to Mandera and teach ICT you definitely will not, it makes more sense to train the teacher already on the ground. We can roll out across the country simultaneously as we are not using a single contractor to build the labs or install the solar or the cabling. <BR><BR>Just like with the CDF if the area representatives cannot identify their priority areas then lets not try to force it down their throats. <BR><BR>Before teaching a man to fish make sure he does eat fish.<BR><BR>Technology
knows no bounds only the human mind constrains itself<BR>
<DIV> </DIV>Robert Yawe<BR>KAY System Technologies Ltd<BR>Phoenix House, 6th Floor<BR>P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200<BR>Kenya<BR><BR>
<DIV>Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> bitange@jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wed, 24 March, 2010 19:15:50<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [kictanet] Ongeri Hurray on ICT Bus<BR></FONT><BR>Robert,<BR>Things are not as easy as you write here. Today in Kenya you cannot try<BR>to do anything without taking into account of regional interests. I hope<BR>you are watching the constitutional process and the regional emotions. <BR>Imagine if we were to start with schools in the ASAL region promising to<BR>cover the entire country in the next five years. Consider that Ministry<BR>of Education does not
have adequate number of teachers as we speak yet you<BR>will need at least one computer teacher in the 20,000 primary schools and<BR>9,000 secondary schools.<BR><BR>If we need to close the digital divide, we all must change. We must for<BR>example begin volunteering to teach both the students and the unemployed<BR>youth computers. By so doing, you will one day live to say what you did<BR>for your country. Like it is said "it is easier said than done".<BR><BR>Regards<BR><BR><BR>Ndemo.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>> Hi,<BR>><BR>> It seems that some sanity is coming into the education realm with the Hon.<BR>> Minister Dr. Ongeri canceling the proposed ICT Bus project, I believe once<BR>> bitten twice shy.<BR>><BR>> The project was to cost Kes. 1.2 B with each bus costing Kes. 7 Million<BR>> which equates to 171 buses that is roughly 24 buses per province this was<BR>> surely another scan in the making. I
remember the MP of Kisumu Hon.<BR>> Shabbir raising the issue of the buses and getting dismissed as a self<BR>> seeking technology Neanderthal, lets hope this is the beginning of sanity<BR>> in the ICT arena, but if I was you I wouldn't hold my breath.<BR>><BR>> I suspect that the concept of mobile computer labs was a thinking from the<BR>> mobile library project but someone forgot that with a library the books<BR>> are left behind.<BR>><BR>> With Kes 7 million we could do much more than just a single bus with 20<BR>> computer that requires a driver, insurance, service, generators, and many<BR>> other thinks.<BR>><BR>> Here is my suggestion on how the 7 million could be better utilised to<BR>> meet the objectives.<BR>><BR>> - 20% to be used for physical facilities (stone & mortar) - Kes. 1.4 M -<BR>> This can build 150 sq m of classroom space inclusive of electrical wiring<BR>> & burger
proofed windows. An average computer lab is 15 sq m which means<BR>> we can build 10 labs and each can accommodate 20 screens/pcs. We could<BR>> build even more labs if the Ministry if Housing provided the interlocking<BR>> soil block making machines<BR>><BR>> - 30% to be used for provision of power to the lab - Kes. 2.1 million we<BR>> which we need to provide sufficient power. The computers will need to be<BR>> low power consumers therefore we use TFT screens and cpu sharing devices<BR>> that allow 1 computer to be used simultaneously by 4 or more students.<BR>> With this our power requirement for each lab would be below 1,000 VA which<BR>> can easily be supplied by a few solar panels and a battery bank.<BR>><BR>> - 20% for the actual hardware - Kes. 1.4 M - DC powered computers,<BR>> printers and GSM modem with a good proxy server to provide local caching.<BR>> This will also include structured
cabling which will be done by the<BR>> graduats of the kazi kwa Vijani initiative where they will have been<BR>> offered technical training.<BR>><BR>> - 20% teacher training - Kes. 1.4 M, even if we have them certified in<BR>> ICDL we shall be able to train 66 teachers which would provide enough<BR>> computer teachers.<BR>><BR>> - 10% well I leave you to decide what to do with that, note that there are<BR>> no recurrent costs such as drivers, diesel, electricity costs (God does<BR>> not charge for solar, yet).<BR>><BR>> The 10 labs can be used by the schools during the day and could be made<BR>> available to the community in the evenings and as digital villages over<BR>> the weekends where content can be generated, yes local content (ask me for<BR>> details).<BR>><BR>> Now that I have spend the equivalent of 1 bus to create 10 centers why<BR>> won't we actually do this, because I did not factor
in the feasibility<BR>> study costs, 30%, seminars and workshops 50%, sitting allowances 20% and<BR>> well nothing else to include as the preliminary costs have already<BR>> consumed the 7 million.<BR>><BR>> Ongeri hurray but lets hope the money will not go to drinking water and<BR>> writing materials for a bonding session.<BR>><BR>> Regards<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> Robert Yawe<BR>> KAY System Technologies Ltd<BR>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor<BR>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200<BR>> Kenya<BR>><BR>><BR>> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696<BR>><BR>><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>>
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