<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.ca> wrote</font><br><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">>This
list had a fairly extended discussion on this program some months ago –
were these views consolidated and shared with the >Ministry? Grace?
Walu? I think
it should be done as a start.</span><br><br>Edith I summarized most of this lists arguments on a public blog for any technocrat to read @<br><br>http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/A-sober-take-on-laptops-for-class-one-pupils/-/634/1851296/-/view/asBlogPost/-/lxh3tpz/-/index.html<br><br>But perhaps they are too busy to read blogs. Perhaps the ICT Cabinet Sec. might translate some of our divergent view into a formal government brief and share with his counterpart at the Ministry of education. Thereafter we except to hear an improved approach on this matter. <br><br>Personally I have been abit skeptical over the whole project but willing to make the best out of it in terms of ideas. But if we deliberately? start off on a wrong note one begins to wonder if the objective has already been hijacked by folks who want to "expense" some billions rather than "invest" the same.<br><div><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>walu.<br></span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <hr size="1"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.ca><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> <br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum <mediaeditors@lists.kictanet.or.ke> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, May 30, 2013 5:17 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> RE: [kictanet] 6,000 primary schools picked
for free laptop project<br> </font> </div> <div class="y_msg_container"><br><div id="yiv0791483901">
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Walu,</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">In addition to clear “marginalization”, I wonder to what extent there has been wide consultation to engage key stakeholders including those in the ICT industry
who have rolled out computers in schools (e.g. computer for schools Kenya - CFSK; cyber schools for curriculum content etc etc) and to learn from the very many schoolnet programs in Kenya and Africa. For example, IDRC funded schoolnets in Africa (including
in Kenya) for over 10 years, these lessons are well documented. E.g. an external evaluation of Computer’s for schools Kenya program of providing computers to schools is quite instructive and worth reading at
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/43675/1/130237.pdf">http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/43675/1/130237.pdf</a> . A “how to do guide” was also developed, documenting the entire cycle from sourcing the computers to eWaste management
with lessons learned incorporated in the guide book – I’m sure copies can be gladly availed by CFSK.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Others have consolidated lessons about what works and what doesn’t across Africa (e.g. ROCARE network of researchers studying computer programs in schools and
the impacts in Africa). We should learn not to reinvent, but draw on evidence!</span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">We don’t seem interested in getting the model right, but “ticking the political box” saying that “laptops have been delivered by 1<sup>st</sup> January 2014!
Looking at the entire cycle from procurement, teacher/student training, curriculum content provision, ongoing technical maintenance to eWaste disposal et etc is very critical!
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-size: 11pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;" class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">This list had a fairly extended discussion on this program some months ago – were these views consolidated and shared with the Ministry? Grace? Walu? I think
it should be done as a start.</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">The Cabinet secretary should also be advised to hold a stakeholder’s forum to discuss experience and lessons so we have sustainable interventions!</span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Edith</span></div>
<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;" lang="EN-US"> kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.ca@lists.kictanet.or.ke]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Walubengo J<br>
<b>Sent:</b> May 30, 2013 11:46 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Edith Adera<br>
<b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [kictanet] 6,000 primary schools picked for free laptop project</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="color:black;">Listers,</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">This project seems to have just kicked off on the wrong tangent...was wondering how they would select WHICH primary schools would get the laptops and was shocked to read:</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">>> </span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">He (Kaimenyi, Cabinet Sec. for Education) said the availability of electricity and nearness to the main grid was the basis used in deciding the schools selection criteria.</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="color:black;">In every three schools with electricity connection, the ministry has selected one school close to the mains grid and another one that is far away from the grid....</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="color:black;"> </span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="color:black;">>> adopted from
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000084770&story_title=6-000-primary-schools-picked-for-free-laptop-project&pageNo=2">
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000084770&story_title=6-000-primary-schools-picked-for-free-laptop-project&pageNo=2</a></span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Never mind that I thought these laptops would "solar-powered". But now it looks like if you are lucky to live near an electricity pole, your luck doubles as you get a bonus benefit of a laptop. If you happen
to leave very far from one (think Pokot, Turkana, Tana River, Wajir, etc) your tough luck just got tougher. I cant think of a better way of "extending" rather than "bridging" the digital divide..</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">walu.</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0791483901MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">nb: Mutoro:-sounds like you guys are going to have a very busy year in courts :-)</span></div>
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