July 2009 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Alex Gakuru 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 8:38 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > Alex, > FOI is one of the issues in Agenda 4 and also in the the Private Sector > Roundtable with Prime Minister. We finished both the policy and the draft > bill more than six months ago and forwarded it to Cabinet. It is in the > priority list of the Cabinet Sub Committee Chaired by the PM. It should > be though anytime. > > Regards > > Ndemo. > > >> Dear Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I find myself under increasing pressure from progressive >> quarters to request/remind you to post FOI and Data >> Protection Bills for discussions to this mailing list. >> >> Kindly come to my rescue :-) >> >> regards, >> >> >> Alex >> _______________________________________________ >> ke-internetusers mailing list >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> --- On Mon, 7/6/09, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> wrote: > From: Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses > To: alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 12:44 AM > Thanks for such 'espionage' research > ;-) ..... > > I hope Dr Ndemo can respond to each matter raised. > > That said, it has fueled greater interest in the 'Freedom > of > Information Act'. What's the status there? > > Wainaina > > On 7/4/09, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > Eunice, > > > > Consumer public watchdog role of public offices is > called for by the ICT > > Policy. 9.6 (c) "Consumers and users will be expected > to participate in > > ensuring continued review of Government policy in > accordance with > > technological and consumer trends." > > > > I put it that Ndemo and Eunice are playing around with > words to conceal and > > “manage” public perception of what they are > actually implementing all while > > giving lip service support to FOSS, if not using > every evidence and > > opportunity they get to attempt to discredit > FOSS and its local ICT > > entrepreneurs. > > > > Ndemo and the Board actually got shs 320 million from > the World Bank for > > proprietary software licenses and surrounding expenses > for their > > projects."Licenses, the management system and the > rudimentary data warehouse > > are estimated at US$4 million" The World Bank required > ICT policy (also on > > software) to be followed. It was not followed and > Ndemo's statement “What > > each party (Proprietary or OSS) does should not > concern policy” is thus null > > and void. Why did they not also have a provision for > Open Source Software on > > the funding proposals? > > > > Eunice has questioned my credibility I am therefore > providing indisputable > > evidence-right to reply candidly giving my defense at > this public court - > > interpret below document reference in this context. > Excuse me for not > > sending it onlist but you may also ask the World Bank, > if you want. > > > > Courtesy of US Freedom of Information Act (governs > World Bank information) > > on 31 July, 2008, I requested and was directed to the > complete “KENYA > > TRANSPARENCY & COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE > PROJECT (TCIP/CIP 1)” dated 5 > > March, 2007. > > > > Which I read and observed its stated terms of use: > “This document has a > > restricted distribution and may be used by recipients > only in the > > performance of their official duties. Its contents may > not otherwise be > > disclosed without World Bank authorization. > > ” > > > > ----excerpt----- > > 25.TCIP contribution to connect Government. TCIP will > fund the following: > > The internal LAN connections in two buildings which > are shared with > > government offices (NSSF and Utalii House) along with > their connections to > > the fiber optics network to serve five small > Ministries. This is estimated > > cost US$1 million. > > > > The enterprise software licenses for government staff > and the document > > management system for government records will be > procured and deployed in a > > manner consistent with the standards and guidelines > specified in the > > Government’s I C T policy, along with the hardware > required for storage o f > > the data. Licenses, the management system and the > rudimentary data warehouse > > are estimated at US$4 million. > > > > The project will also fund the software and hardware > required for the IP > > Platform and the Network Operations Center, also in a > manner consistent with > > the standards and guidelines specified in the > Government’s I C T policy. > > This subcomponent i s estimated at US$7 million. > > > > Furthermore, TCIP will fund the training, change > management and capacity > > building which will enable the government to take full > advantage o f the > > internal systems and to ensure that they are > professionally deployed and > > maintained. Considerable resources are required, on > the order o f US$4 > > million. > > > > 26.Leveraging other sources of finance. Other > development partners have > > indicated their willingness to fund the National Data > Center and the > > Disaster Recovery Center; it should be noted that > success o f the Government > > o f Kenya’s communication network is contingent on > secured funding for all > > elements described above. > > > > 27. T U P Component 2d - Support to the Digital > Village initiative – US$lO > > million TCIP will support the scaling-up of > successfully piloted Digital > > Village initiative. Digital villages are e-centers > that provide a suite o f > > services to the public via computers connected to the > internet, digital > > cameras, printers, fax machines and other > communication infrastructure. > > > > These services include, but are not limited to: e-mail > and internet access; > > e-banking (e.g., money transfer services such as Posta > Pay); eGovernment > > (e.g., police abstract forms, tax returns, P3 forms, > and driving license > > applications); e- business (e.g., franchised postal > and courier services); > > e-learning; e-health; e-markets (e.g., agricultural > commodity pricing and > > exchange); and e-monitoring *(e.g., real-time local > level monitoring of > > development funds and projects)*. Pilot Digital > Villages are run by private > > entrepreneurs who obtained training in business and > information technology > > from a certified program. This component will support > the Government over 3 > > years to roll out and scale up the successfully > piloted Digital Village > > initiative which aims at providing internet access and > e-services at the > > grassroots level via public-private partnerships. > > > > 28.TCIP support to include training, a grant facility, > I T support, and > > internet connectivity. > > The provision o f training programs in business and > information technology > > from a certified program will be supported by the > project (US$2 million). > > Prospective entrepreneurs who have obtained > certification will be eligible > > to apply for a Digital Village development loan from a > revolving fund: the > > Digital Village Fund (DVF). The project will > contribute US$4 million to the > > Government funded DVF over a three year period in 3 > installments. Although > > initially envisaged as a grant facility, the DVF could > be structured as a > > revolving fund (the funds allocated to each > entrepreneur would be repayable > > into the DVF over a 3 year period). These funds > received by the > > entrepreneurs will be used to finance set-up costs and > the required > > infrastructure (computers, printers, software etc). > The grant facility will > > be managed by the ICT Board Grant Manager and will > follow the governance and > > disbursement mechanisms set in the Grants Operational > Manual (the manual > > will be formulated as part o f the technical > assistance activity specified > > in l(c) above). Over the first 3 years the project > will support the > > provision o f IT support to Digital Villages (US$2 > million) and finance > > internet connectivity (US$2 million) which are > critical to support the > > incubation o f the initiative and ensure > sustainability. Overall it i s > > expected this project component will support the > establishment of 300 > > Digital Villages over a 3 year period. > > > > -- end citation -- > > > > Conclusions: > > > > 1.Digital Villages funding need not be 'loans' to the > entrepreneurs since as > > 'grants' was provided for. What was the rationale used > by the ICT board to > > decide all Digital Villages funds should be loaned to > the entrepreneurs and > > persons with disabilities? (In as much as it was also > provided for) > > > > 2. We appreciate the power of Freedom of Information > law. > > > > 3. I highly doubt Dr. Ndemo's commitment to our > Freedom of Information law > > legislation. > > > > 4.It is not proper for the PS to lay claim on “A > good policy levels the play > > ground.” > > > > 5.'Problem solving postponement' routine while the > PPDA, 2005 law is in > > place? “That is why we need the procurement rules > change to give everybody > > an equal chance.” is a mere 'perception management' > path/decoy. > > > > 6.Elsewhere, we strongly differ on ethics as regards > Public Office use to > > promote private interests and own gain. The PS now > reportedly appears > > Safaricom (private mobico) television commercials and > obviously “he received > > something.” He responds saying that he sees nothing > wrong with that, > > “apologies for what?” he asks. > > > > 7.If you want to know what local technical community > feels of the current > > ICT leadership in government, a local mailing member > recently wrote “Ideas > > and issues should be floated regularly and > resoundingly so that at the end > > of the day there are no excuses why in some countries > you can receive almost > > all services online while here we fondly believe > 'download and print' is > > e-government. > > > > 8.Perhaps the 2006 ICT Policy may have erred in > professing Kenya had > > automagically found High Level ICT leadership and > calling for it to be > > “protected” . Previous ICT Policy drafts lamented > absence of high level > > leadership. > > > > 9.Processes and leaderships that suppress > (irrepressible) truths only serve > > to entrench public resentment of government > culminating to disasters like > > early last year's. We should work hard to avoid their > repeat.. > > > > Above document refers to 300 digital villages and up > until Eunice's message > > the ICT Board training materials developed were > proprietary software-base, > > none were on FOSS. > > > > I hope for specific responses to all above issues > raised. > > > > Gakuru > > > > > > On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 9:15 AM, <eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke> > wrote: > >> Dear Alex, > >> I am not sure why you got your information about > the ICT board having > > rolled out 300 digital Villages with proprietary > software from these are not > > fact based. > >> > >> When that time comes, the entrepreneurs will be > free to procure whichever > > computer brands with whichever operating systems they > prefer they feel will > > enable them operate the digital villages. > >> > >> This is why the board is training entrepreneurs > who will be capable of > > making prudent business decisions on their own. > >> > >> After the training they will apply for grants from > the board, through an > > agency, with which to procure what they need to be > able to run their digital > > villages. > >> > >> I believe Dr Ndemo clarified the government policy > and Sang raised > > pertinent issues to chew on. > >> > >> It would be good to comment on issues based on > facts. > >> > >> Ek > >> > >> > >> > >> , because the board has > >> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain > Kenya > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > >> > >> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:34:24 > >> To: <eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke> > >> Cc: <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, > >> varying quality - We > lack an accreditation system for ICT > > courses > >> > >> > >> It is not and in fact the law reinforces it. But > while Section 34 of > >> the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 is > very clear on > >> procurement, public officials continually break > this law by choosing > >> to purchase proprietary software. Those in the > know say that savings > >> on proprietary licences, in one year alone, are > enough to bring > >> elevate 1 district's ICT to the level Nairobi > enjoys. What motivates > >> government procurement officials to insist on > spending public funds on > >> proprietary software? > >> > >> Also consider the case of ICT Board 300+ "digital > villages" all rolled > >> out on proprietary software. This means those > entrepreneuers will > >> every year pay Operating syetem and surrounding > sofwtare licences ad > >> infinitum. Talk of unnecessary cost burdens... > >> > >> Despite local Open Source Software community > calling on the ICT Board > >> to inform and train them on the abundantly > available FOSS options. > >> > >> Over to Uhuru Kenyatta and treasury public > expenditure cost-saving > > officials... > >> --- > >> > >> "Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday directed > the Public > >> Procurement Oversight Authority - PPOA to develop > guidelines that will > >> ensure that procurement of public goods and > services is done > >> transparently while safeguarding public funds from > misuse. > >> > >> Uhuru who addressed a news conference immediately > after reading the > >> budget estimates to parliament, said the Public > Procurement Oversight > >> Authority has to ensure transparency among > government departments that > >> deal with procurement." > >> <http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=57928 > >> > >> regards, > >> > >> Alex > >> > >> On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 8:02 AM, Mwololo Tim<timwololo(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >>> Listers, > >>> > >>> Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open > source software (OSS). As > > we > >>> think of a review of this policy, which > according to me is due due to a > >>> number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many > other developments), we > > should > >>> think seriously about a section on OSS > policy. > >>> > >>> tim mwololo > >>> > >>> > >>> On 6/29/09, Evans Ikua <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> > wrote: > >>>> > >>>> There is also Camara Kenya (the local > office of camara.ie) that has done > >>>> tremendous work in the area of putting > hardware in schools, both Primary > > and > >>>> Secondary, installing open source > software, supporting them, and > > training > >>>> the teachers. This in a short period of > time. > >>>> > >>>> Their work has mainly been in the coast > region but they are also getting > >>>> into the hinterland. They have about 150 > volunteers from Ireland who > > have > >>>> just come in and they will conduct > trainings for about a month. > >>>> > >>>> They have equipped schools in the whole of > Lamu island, and many schools > >>>> at the coast. > >>>> > >>>> They are achieving much more by using FOSS > as a computer installed with > >>>> Linux gives much more to a student as > opposed to one installed with > > Windows. > >>>> Because they are not spending a penny on > software licenses, they are > > able to > >>>> supply like twice the number of PCs than > if they were to have the > > schools > >>>> buy licenses. > >>>> > >>>> Ikua > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> Evans Ikua > >>>> Linux Professional Association of Kenya > >>>> Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 > 831 > >>>> Eagle House, 2nd Floor > >>>> Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House > >>>> www.lpakenya.org > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Quoting Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com>: > >>>> > >>>>> forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel > Khisa > >>>>> <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> > wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> From: Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> > >>>>> Subject: RE: [kictanet] One > subject,varying quality - We lack an > >>>>> accreditation system for > ICT courses > >>>>> To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > >>>>> Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 > AM > >>>>> > >>>>> And Project Discovery Kenya has been > able to train more that 200 > > primary > >>>>> school teachers over the last five > years in conjunction with Institute > > of > >>>>> Software technologies...I also know > that similar training went on in > > Yala > >>>>> Division last April for Primary school > teachers in the division > > organised > >>>>> by > >>>>> the Computers for Schools. > >>>>> On the subject of lack of adequate > professors, I will leave that to > >>>>> Academicians and those keen on > interrogating academics, I however would > >>>>> like > >>>>> the ICT training to move from over > concentration with the academics and > >>>>> more > >>>>> to the more handson...more like > incubator based learning > > approach...While > >>>>> the Far East economies have good > universities, they still put more > >>>>> premium > >>>>> on handson skills...It is sad that > even our graduate engineers let > > alone > >>>>> IT > >>>>> graduates (who by the way take a lot > of flack) cannot invent or think > >>>>> outside the box...I mean no invention > ever comes out of these highly > >>>>> restricted courses yet only a select > few universities dare to venture > >>>>> into... > >>>>> > >>>>> The answer in my opinion lies in > building skills that are more > > practical > >>>>> and > >>>>> focussed on creating entrepreneural > opportunities. > >>>>> > >>>>> Rgds, > >>>>> > >>>>> Manu > >>>>> > >>>>> "New opinions are always suspected and > usually opposed, without any > > other > >>>>> reason but because they are not > already common." > >>>>> P Before printing, think about the > Environment and your > > responsibilities > >>>>> -----Original Message----- > >>>>> From: > kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>> > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa<kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa> > > =kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] > >>>>> On > >>>>> Behalf Of Walubengo J > >>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM > >>>>> To: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke > >>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > >>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One > subject,varying quality - We lack an > >>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> I agree that something is happening > within the High-School teaching > >>>>> fraternity. Last April, Multimedia > University College trained 80 high > >>>>> school > >>>>> headteachers from Samburu and I think > Transmara Districts, giving them > >>>>> basic > >>>>> ICT skills...am aware Strathmore > University, IAT etc also do such > >>>>> trainings > >>>>> regularly...It may not be enough, but > its definitely a good kick in the > >>>>> right direction. > >>>>> > >>>>> As for the University Level IT faculty > staff. Unfortunately the > >>>>> statistics > >>>>> are likely to be true. You can > count the number of IT Professors in > > this > >>>>> country on your three fingers ;-) > >>>>> > >>>>> walu. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang > <bksang(a)education.go.ke> > wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> From: Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> > >>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One > subject, varying quality - We lack an > >>>>> > >>>>> accreditation system for ICT > courses > >>>>>> > >>>>>> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > >>>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >>>>>> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, > 11:32 PM > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Betty, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Thanks for your response on the > article > >>>>>> mentioned below. Will go > >>>>>> through it and perhaps respond on > key issues raised, which > >>>>>> ICT in Education has > >>>>>> already done or planned. I hope it > will minimize fears all > >>>>>> of us have or may be > >>>>>> persuaded to think all is totally > misplaced and lost. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> ?ICT Integration? is currently > Ministry > >>>>>> of Education focus, and > >>>>>> steps already put in place are > expected to make Kenya > >>>>>> improve both teaching and > >>>>>> learning environment, with better > education ?products? > >>>>>> across all levels. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Kind regards > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> B. K. Sang > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> From: > >>>>>> kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bksang > <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>= > > education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] > >>>>>> On > >>>>>> Behalf Of Betty Ogange > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 > 4:31 PM > >>>>>> > >>>>>> To: Barnabas K. Sang > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One > subject, varying quality > >>>>>> - We lack an > >>>>>> accreditation system for ICT > courses > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Hallo David, > >>>>>> Last week there was > furore in this forum > >>>>>> about media > >>>>>> misrepresentation of > the Kenyan situation. The article > >>>>>> that you make > >>>>>> reference to in > today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be > >>>>>> accurate in the areas that > >>>>>> you have highlighted. > However, I wish to take issue with > >>>>>> a few points raised > >>>>>> in the article. > >>>>> > >>>>> > > http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> ?Unlike > other academic fields, very > >>>>>> little has been done > >>>>>> to train most > teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no > >>>>>> primary teacher training > >>>>>> college offers > comprehensive pre-service training in > >>>>>> information technology.? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Anyone with a modest > interest in education in > >>>>>> Kenya would not > >>>>>> miss something as > obvious as a subject in the national > >>>>>> curriculum when reporting > >>>>>> in a national daily. > Prior to the year 2004, a few > >>>>>> colleges had ICT skills > >>>>>> courses for > pre-service teachers based on in-house > >>>>>> curricula that were > >>>>>> independently > developed by each college. The Primary > >>>>>> Teacher Education (PTE) > >>>>>> ICT curriculum > developed by the Kenya Institute of > >>>>>> Education has been in > >>>>>> force since the year > 2004 and ICT is taught as a > >>>>>> compulsory subject in all > >>>>>> primary teacher > training colleges. It is examined > >>>>>> internally at the end of > >>>>>> the first year and > all students must pass in the subject, > >>>>>> among other > >>>>>> subjects, in order to > proceed to second year. There are > >>>>>> several > >>>>>> implementation > hitches in this programme arising from the > >>>>>> fact that ICT is > >>>>>> being taught as a > discrete subject in the curriculum and > >>>>>> has yet to be > >>>>>> mainstreamed in the > other subjects in the PTE curriculum. > >>>>>> The debate around > >>>>>> ICT- pedagogy > integration in education and how to > >>>>>> operationalise it right > >>>>>> from curriculum > development to classroom level > >>>>>> implementation continues in > >>>>>> the education > circles. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > ?In-service training is often > >>>>>> provided by trainers who > >>>>>> are just barely > literate in > >>>>>> computers? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> In my knowledge, this > has happened especially > >>>>>> in instances when > >>>>>> some hardware > providers ?dangle? teacher training as > >>>>>> an additional offer to > >>>>>> the institution. TTCs > used to hire ICT technicians to > >>>>>> teach the course, but > >>>>>> in the last 2 years, > the Teacher Service Commission has > >>>>>> posted trained > >>>>>> lecturers of ICT to a > number of TTCs. There have also > >>>>>> been some highly > >>>>>> professional training > offered to college lecturers by > >>>>>> Microsoft (in > >>>>>> conjunction with the > Institute of Advanced Technology - > >>>>>> IAT) and the Kenya > >>>>>> Technical Teachers > College. Computers for Schools Kenya > >>>>>> and the Nepad > >>>>>> e-schools teacher > training programmes have also reached > >>>>>> teachers in selected > >>>>>> secondary schools. > Lack of co-ordination (as with the > >>>>>> rest of the ICT > >>>>>> initiatives in Kenya > ), lack of clear training targets > >>>>>> and time-lines have > >>>>>> compromised > continuity and impact of some of these > >>>>>> training programmes. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> ?The > >>>>>> entire ICT education is in > tatters? > >>>>>> An interesting > analogy there. But I see a > >>>>>> sector that is struggling > >>>>>> with what some > scholars in educational reform have called > >>>>>> an ?implementation > >>>>>> dip? ? that for a > number of reasons things normally > >>>>>> tend to get worse before > >>>>>> they can get > better. There are lots of difficulties in > >>>>>> implementing large > >>>>>> scale ICT initiatives > in the education sector world over. > >>>>>> In our country, > >>>>>> there have been > positive efforts by the Ministry of > >>>>>> Education, the KIE and a > >>>>>> number of > stakeholders in education, and these do count. > >>>>>> On the other hand, > >>>>>> there has been the > tendency (by education leaders) > >>>>>> towards elaborate policy > >>>>>> documents, ?ICT > networks? and trust funds whose > >>>>>> mandates remain > >>>>>> indeterminate. All > these need to be researched and > >>>>>> accurately presented. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Accurate reporting by > the media and objective > >>>>>> analysis of both > >>>>>> the positives and > difficulties are important in helping > >>>>>> the public target > >>>>>> their attention and > effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the > >>>>>> use of expressions > >>>>>> such as ?in tatters? > ?the situation is bad?, > >>>>>> ?alarmed professionals? > >>>>>> ?obsolete hardware? > to describe ICT in education in > >>>>>> Kenya sounds to me fairly > >>>>>> sensational. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Betty > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, > David Otwoma > >>>>>> <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > >>>>>> wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> From: David Otwoma > <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Subject: [kictanet] > One subject, varying quality - We > >>>>>> lack an accreditation > >>>>>> system for ICT > courses > >>>>>> > >>>>>> To: ogange(a)yahoo.com > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT > Policy Discussions" > >>>>>> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Date: Wednesday, June > 24, 2009, 9:32 AM > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> .....universities > >>>>>> offer many degrees > but their quality and market demand > >>>>>> differ...... > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Although > >>>>>> nearly all > universities offer degrees, only the > >>>>>> University of Nairobi, Jomo > >>>>>> Kenyatta University > of Agriculture and Technology and > >>>>>> Strathmore have > >>>>>> Master?s programmes > and only UON and Jkuat teach at > >>>>>> doctoral level. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> There > >>>>>> is a diminishing > number of staff with PhDs in ICT > >>>>>> departments. According to > >>>>>> Prof Rodrigues, UoN > has the highest number of full-time > >>>>>> lecturers with PhDs > >>>>>> in ICT that stands at > eight of 18, while Jkuat has three > >>>>>> of six, which is the > >>>>>> same number for > Strathmore. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Kenyatta > >>>>>> University has nine > full-time but none of them have a PhD > >>>>>> or an equivalent > >>>>>> qualification, while > none of the Kabarak?s eight > >>>>>> lecturers have a PhD. Two of > >>>>>> six of United States > International University has > >>>>>> doctoral degrees. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Many > >>>>>> lecturers have no > experience as ICT professionals as > >>>>>> engineers, software > >>>>>> developers or in the > emerging area of computer and > >>>>>> network security. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> See > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > > http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& > >>>>>> > >>>>>> for full story > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -- > >>>>>> > >>>>>> David Otwoma, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Chief Science > Secretary, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> National Council for > Science and Technology, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Utalii House 9th > Floor, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Mobile tel: +254 722 > 141771, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Office tel: +254 > (0)20 2346915, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> P. O. Box 5687 - > 00100, Nairobi, Kenya > >>>>>> > >>>>>> email: otwomad(a)gmail.com > & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke > >>>>>> > >>>>>> www.ncst.go.ke > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -----Inline > Attachment Follows----- > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > _______________________________________________ > >>>>>> > >>>>>> kictanet mailing > list > >>>>>> > >>>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>>> > >>>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> This message was sent > to: ogange(a)yahoo.com > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Unsubscribe or change > your options at > >>>>> > >>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -----Inline Attachment > Follows----- > >>>>>> > >>>>>>_______________________________________________ > >>>>>> kictanet mailing list > >>>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>>>>> > >>>>>> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > >>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options > at > >>>>> > >>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>>_______________________________________________ > >>>>> kictanet mailing list > >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>>>> > >>>>> This message was sent to: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke > >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>>>> > >>>>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet. > >>>>> co.ke > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>_______________________________________________ > >>>> kictanet mailing list > >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>>> > >>>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com > >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com > >>> > >>> > >>>_______________________________________________ > >>> kictanet mailing list > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>> > >>> This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… > >>> > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> This message was sent to: eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eunicekariuki%40ict.go… > >> > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > --- > http://www.bungesms.com > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Mwololo Tim 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

Bwana Sang, You have a point. We do not have strong OSS champions, especially in the public sector - at least not as powerful as the evangilists for proprietary software. This situation is not helped by a non-committal policy. Let me chew over how we can change things. Mwololo On 6/30/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: > > Tim, > > > > I agree with you to some extent, that we all need revision of the current > ICT Policy to accommodate the key issues Kenya currently is focusing on. On > OSS, I still doubt capacity of “*OSS Champions*” on the issue having > observed in the past one year, how an opportunity to have 210 secondary > schools each equipped with 25 PCs and use both proprietary software and OSS > (Funds provided for) progressed. > > > > To date, no OSS proponents have brought any concept on how MOE can > facilitate the adoption and use of OSS. There are some brilliant OSS > solutions, particularly supporting teaching and learning (animated content > -> good for illustrations of difficult concepts in some subjects) and > development of content for use by all education and training stakeholders > (teachers, students, parents and researchers). > > > > I would like to acknowledge existence of sufficient leadership (policy and > managers) to support modernization of education (ICT integration to teaching > and learning). We may not have all necessary capacity yet for > decision-makers to guide the process, but in partnership with all > stakeholders, I believe OSS will definitely find a niche in the whole ICT > integration exercise being spearheaded by MOE. Perhaps people like yourself > and others in this network, could enlightened us on how OSS could be part of > ICT integration efforts at an early stage as possible. > > > > Kind Regards > > > > B. K. Sang > > > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: > kictanet-bounces+bksang <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>=education.go.ke@ > lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Mwololo Tim > *Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2009 8:02 AM > *To:* Barnabas K. Sang > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack > an accreditation system for ICT courses > > > > Listers, > > > > Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open source software (OSS). As we > think of a review of this policy, which according to me is due due to a > number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many other developments), we should > think seriously about a section on OSS policy. > > > > tim mwololo > > > > On 6/29/09, *Evans Ikua* <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> wrote: > > There is also Camara Kenya (the local office of camara.ie) that has done > tremendous work in the area of putting hardware in schools, both Primary and > Secondary, installing open source software, supporting them, and training > the teachers. This in a short period of time. > > Their work has mainly been in the coast region but they are also getting > into the hinterland. They have about 150 volunteers from Ireland who have > just come in and they will conduct trainings for about a month. > > They have equipped schools in the whole of Lamu island, and many schools at > the coast. > > They are achieving much more by using FOSS as a computer installed with > Linux gives much more to a student as opposed to one installed with Windows. > Because they are not spending a penny on software licenses, they are able to > supply like twice the number of PCs than if they were to have the schools > buy licenses. > > Ikua > > -- > Evans Ikua > Linux Professional Association of Kenya > Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 > Eagle House, 2nd Floor > Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House > www.lpakenya.org > > > > > Quoting Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com>: > > forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> > wrote: > > From: Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> > Subject: RE: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an > accreditation system for ICT courses > To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 AM > > And Project Discovery Kenya has been able to train more that 200 primary > school teachers over the last five years in conjunction with Institute of > Software technologies...I also know that similar training went on in Yala > Division last April for Primary school teachers in the division organised > by > the Computers for Schools. > On the subject of lack of adequate professors, I will leave that to > Academicians and those keen on interrogating academics, I however would > like > the ICT training to move from over concentration with the academics and > more > to the more handson...more like incubator based learning approach...While > the Far East economies have good universities, they still put more premium > on handson skills...It is sad that even our graduate engineers let alone IT > graduates (who by the way take a lot of flack) cannot invent or think > outside the box...I mean no invention ever comes out of these highly > restricted courses yet only a select few universities dare to venture > into... > > The answer in my opinion lies in building skills that are more practical > and > focussed on creating entrepreneural opportunities. > > Rgds, > > Manu > > "New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any other > reason but because they are not already common." > P Before printing, think about the Environment and your responsibilities > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa<kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa> > =kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Walubengo J > Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM > To: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an > accreditation system for ICT courses > > > I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching > fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80 high > school > headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving them > basic > ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such trainings > regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in the > right direction. > > As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the statistics > are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in this > country on your three fingers ;-) > > walu. > > > > --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: > > From: Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an > > accreditation system for ICT courses > > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Betty, > > > > Thanks for your response on the article > mentioned below. Will go > through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which > ICT in Education has > already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all > of us have or may be > persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost. > > > > > ?ICT Integration? is currently Ministry > of Education focus, and > steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya > improve both teaching and > learning environment, with better education ?products? > across all levels. > > > > Kind regards > > > > B. K. Sang > > > > > > > > From: > kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bksang <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>= > education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] > On > Behalf Of Betty Ogange > > Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM > > To: Barnabas K. Sang > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality > - We lack an > accreditation system for ICT courses > > > > > > > > > Hallo David, > Last week there was furore in this forum > about media > misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article > that you make > reference to in today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be > accurate in the areas that > you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with > a few points raised > in the article. > > http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 > > > ?Unlike other academic fields, very > little has been done > to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no > primary teacher training > college offers comprehensive pre-service training in > information technology.? > > Anyone with a modest interest in education in > Kenya would not > miss something as obvious as a subject in the national > curriculum when reporting > in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few > colleges had ICT skills > courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house > curricula that were > independently developed by each college. The Primary > Teacher Education (PTE) > ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of > Education has been in > force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a > compulsory subject in all > primary teacher training colleges. It is examined > internally at the end of > the first year and all students must pass in the subject, > among other > subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are > several > implementation hitches in this programme arising from the > fact that ICT is > being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and > has yet to be > mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum. > The debate around > ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to > operationalise it right > from curriculum development to classroom level > implementation continues in > the education circles. > > ?In-service training is often > provided by trainers who > are just barely literate in > computers? > > In my knowledge, this has happened especially > in instances when > some hardware providers ?dangle? teacher training as > an additional offer to > the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to > teach the course, but > in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has > posted trained > lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also > been some highly > professional training offered to college lecturers by > Microsoft (in > conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology - > IAT) and the Kenya > Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya > and the Nepad > e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached > teachers in selected > secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the > rest of the ICT > initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets > and time-lines have > compromised continuity and impact of some of these > training programmes. > > ?The > entire ICT education is in tatters? > An interesting analogy there. But I see a > sector that is struggling > with what some scholars in educational reform have called > an ?implementation > dip? ? that for a number of reasons things normally > tend to get worse before > they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in > implementing large > scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over. > In our country, > there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of > Education, the KIE and a > number of stakeholders in education, and these do count. > On the other hand, > there has been the tendency (by education leaders) > towards elaborate policy > documents, ?ICT networks? and trust funds whose > mandates remain > indeterminate. All these need to be researched and > accurately presented. > > Accurate reporting by the media and objective > analysis of both > the positives and difficulties are important in helping > the public target > their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the > use of expressions > such as ?in tatters? ?the situation is bad?, > ?alarmed professionals? > ?obsolete hardware? to describe ICT in education in > Kenya sounds to me fairly > sensational. > > Betty > > > > > > --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma > <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > > Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We > lack an accreditation > system for ICT courses > > To: ogange(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM > > > .....universities > offer many degrees but their quality and market demand > differ...... > > > > > > Although > nearly all universities offer degrees, only the > University of Nairobi, Jomo > Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and > Strathmore have > Master?s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at > doctoral level. > > > There > is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT > departments. According to > Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time > lecturers with PhDs > in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three > of six, which is the > same number for Strathmore. > > > Kenyatta > University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD > or an equivalent > qualification, while none of the Kabarak?s eight > lecturers have a PhD. Two of > six of United States International University has > doctoral degrees. > > > Many > lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as > engineers, software > developers or in the emerging area of computer and > network security. > > > > > > See > > http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& > > for full story > > > > > > -- > > David Otwoma, > > Chief Science Secretary, > > National Council for Science and Technology, > > Utalii House 9th Floor, > > Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, > > Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, > > P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya > > email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke > > www.ncst.go.ke > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet > . > co.ke > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com > > >

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[Fwd: [Security Forum] AFR0W00T HACKERS CONVENTION, CALL FOR PAPERS PLANNED BY NSPKENYA]
by chuks Jonia 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

Hi Members We are inviting InfoSec members as we take Exploitation tools on steroids up the highways of Nairobi, in a Hacker Convention this August. More Discussions at Security forums/Mailists, Link for Archives: http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/security/2009-July/thread.html See you there soon. ./Chuks -- -- Gichuki John Ndirangu, C.E.H , C.P.T.P, O.S.C.P I.T Security Analyst and Penetration Tester infosigmer(a)inbox.com {FORUM}http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/security/ http://nspkenya.blogspot.com/ http://chuksjonia.blogspot.com/ http://www.kamongo.co.ke/

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Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Walubengo J 05 Jul '09

05 Jul '09

Alex, Is this what Americans call "friendly-fire"? I just hope I wont end up being classified as "collateral damage"... But I have to admit I like the bit where you had to go to the US to get data about a Kenyan Project! walu. nb: Meanwhile you should consider a career change and work for the NSIS (intelligence espionage and covert operations ;-) --- On Sat, 7/4/09, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009, 6:15 PM Eunice, Consumer public watchdog role of public offices is called for by the ICT Policy. 9.6 (c) "Consumers and users will be expected to participate in ensuring continued review of Government policy in accordance with technological and consumer trends." I put it that Ndemo and Eunice are playing around with words to conceal and “manage” public perception of what they are actually implementing all while giving lip service support to FOSS, if not using every evidence and opportunity they get to attempt to discredit FOSS and its local ICT entrepreneurs. Ndemo and the Board actually got shs 320 million from the World Bank for proprietary software licenses and surrounding expenses for their projects."Licenses, the management system and the rudimentary data warehouse are estimated at US$4 million" The World Bank required ICT policy (also on software) to be followed. It was not followed and Ndemo's statement “What each party (Proprietary or OSS) does should not concern policy” is thus null and void. Why did they not also have a provision for Open Source Software on the funding proposals? Eunice has questioned my credibility I am therefore providing indisputable evidence-right to reply candidly giving my defense at this public court - interpret below document reference in this context. Excuse me for not sending it onlist but you may also ask the World Bank, if you want. Courtesy of US Freedom of Information Act (governs World Bank information) on 31 July, 2008, I requested and was directed to the complete “KENYA TRANSPARENCY & COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (TCIP/CIP 1)” dated 5 March, 2007. Which I read and observed its stated terms of use: “This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. ” ----excerpt----- 25.TCIP contribution to connect Government. TCIP will fund the following: The internal LAN connections in two buildings which are shared with government offices (NSSF and Utalii House) along with their connections to the fiber optics network to serve five small Ministries. This is estimated cost US$1 million. The enterprise software licenses for government staff and the document management system for government records will be procured and deployed in a manner consistent with the standards and guidelines specified in the Government’s I C T policy, along with the hardware required for storage o f the data. Licenses, the management system and the rudimentary data warehouse are estimated at US$4 million. The project will also fund the software and hardware required for the IP Platform and the Network Operations Center, also in a manner consistent with the standards and guidelines specified in the Government’s I C T policy. This subcomponent i s estimated at US$7 million. Furthermore, TCIP will fund the training, change management and capacity building which will enable the government to take full advantage o f the internal systems and to ensure that they are professionally deployed and maintained. Considerable resources are required, on the order o f US$4 million. 26.Leveraging other sources of finance. Other development partners have indicated their willingness to fund the National Data Center and the Disaster Recovery Center; it should be noted that success o f the Government o f Kenya’s communication network is contingent on secured funding for all elements described above. 27. T U P Component 2d - Support to the Digital Village initiative – US$lO million TCIP will support the scaling-up of successfully piloted Digital Village initiative. Digital villages are e-centers that provide a suite o f services to the public via computers connected to the internet, digital cameras, printers, fax machines and other communication infrastructure. These services include, but are not limited to: e-mail and internet access; e-banking (e.g., money transfer services such as Posta Pay); eGovernment (e.g., police abstract forms, tax returns, P3 forms, and driving license applications); e- business (e.g., franchised postal and courier services); e-learning; e-health; e-markets (e.g., agricultural commodity pricing and exchange); and e-monitoring (e.g., real-time local level monitoring of development funds and projects). Pilot Digital Villages are run by private entrepreneurs who obtained training in business and information technology from a certified program. This component will support the Government over 3 years to roll out and scale up the successfully piloted Digital Village initiative which aims at providing internet access and e-services at the grassroots level via public-private partnerships. 28.TCIP support to include training, a grant facility, I T support, and internet connectivity. The provision o f training programs in business and information technology from a certified program will be supported by the project (US$2 million). Prospective entrepreneurs who have obtained certification will be eligible to apply for a Digital Village development loan from a revolving fund: the Digital Village Fund (DVF). The project will contribute US$4 million to the Government funded DVF over a three year period in 3 installments. Although initially envisaged as a grant facility, the DVF could be structured as a revolving fund (the funds allocated to each entrepreneur would be repayable into the DVF over a 3 year period). These funds received by the entrepreneurs will be used to finance set-up costs and the required infrastructure (computers, printers, software etc). The grant facility will be managed by the ICT Board Grant Manager and will follow the governance and disbursement mechanisms set in the Grants Operational Manual (the manual will be formulated as part o f the technical assistance activity specified in l(c) above). Over the first 3 years the project will support the provision o f IT support to Digital Villages (US$2 million) and finance internet connectivity (US$2 million) which are critical to support the incubation o f the initiative and ensure sustainability. Overall it i s expected this project component will support the establishment of 300 Digital Villages over a 3 year period. -- end citation -- Conclusions: 1.Digital Villages funding need not be 'loans' to the entrepreneurs since as 'grants' was provided for. What was the rationale used by the ICT board to decide all Digital Villages funds should be loaned to the entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities? (In as much as it was also provided for) 2. We appreciate the power of Freedom of Information law. 3. I highly doubt Dr. Ndemo's commitment to our Freedom of Information law legislation. 4.It is not proper for the PS to lay claim on “A good policy levels the play ground.” 5.'Problem solving postponement' routine while the PPDA, 2005 law is in place? “That is why we need the procurement rules change to give everybody an equal chance.” is a mere 'perception management' path/decoy. 6.Elsewhere, we strongly differ on ethics as regards Public Office use to promote private interests and own gain. The PS now reportedly appears Safaricom (private mobico) television commercials and obviously “he received something.” He responds saying that he sees nothing wrong with that, “apologies for what?” he asks. 7.If you want to know what local technical community feels of the current ICT leadership in government, a local mailing member recently wrote “Ideas and issues should be floated regularly and resoundingly so that at the end of the day there are no excuses why in some countries you can receive almost all services online while here we fondly believe 'download and print' is e-government. 8.Perhaps the 2006 ICT Policy may have erred in professing Kenya had automagically found High Level ICT leadership and calling for it to be “protected” . Previous ICT Policy drafts lamented absence of high level leadership. 9.Processes and leaderships that suppress (irrepressible) truths only serve to entrench public resentment of government culminating to disasters like early last year's. We should work hard to avoid their repeat.. Above document refers to 300 digital villages and up until Eunice's message the ICT Board training materials developed were proprietary software-base, none were on FOSS. I hope for specific responses to all above issues raised. Gakuru On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 9:15 AM, <eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke> wrote: > Dear Alex, > I am not sure why you got your information about the ICT board having rolled out 300 digital Villages with proprietary software from these are not fact based. > > When that time comes, the entrepreneurs will be free to procure whichever computer brands with whichever operating systems they prefer they feel will enable them operate the digital villages. > > This is why the board is training entrepreneurs who will be capable of making prudent business decisions on their own. > > After the training they will apply for grants from the board, through an agency, with which to procure what they need to be able to run their digital villages. > > I believe Dr Ndemo clarified the government policy and Sang raised pertinent issues to chew on. > > It would be good to comment on issues based on facts. > > Ek > > > > , because the board has > Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Kenya > > -----Original Message----- > From: Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > > Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:34:24 > To: <eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke> > Cc: <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, > varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses > > > It is not and in fact the law reinforces it. But while Section 34 of > the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 is very clear on > procurement, public officials continually break this law by choosing > to purchase proprietary software. Those in the know say that savings > on proprietary licences, in one year alone, are enough to bring > elevate 1 district's ICT to the level Nairobi enjoys. What motivates > government procurement officials to insist on spending public funds on > proprietary software? > > Also consider the case of ICT Board 300+ "digital villages" all rolled > out on proprietary software. This means those entrepreneuers will > every year pay Operating syetem and surrounding sofwtare licences ad > infinitum. Talk of unnecessary cost burdens... > > Despite local Open Source Software community calling on the ICT Board > to inform and train them on the abundantly available FOSS options. > > Over to Uhuru Kenyatta and treasury public expenditure cost-saving officials... > --- > > "Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday directed the Public > Procurement Oversight Authority - PPOA to develop guidelines that will > ensure that procurement of public goods and services is done > transparently while safeguarding public funds from misuse. > > Uhuru who addressed a news conference immediately after reading the > budget estimates to parliament, said the Public Procurement Oversight > Authority has to ensure transparency among government departments that > deal with procurement." > <http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=57928 > > regards, > > Alex > > On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 8:02 AM, Mwololo Tim<timwololo(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Listers, >> >> Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open source software (OSS). As we >> think of a review of this policy, which according to me is due due to a >> number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many other developments), we should >> think seriously about a section on OSS policy. >> >> tim mwololo >> >> >> On 6/29/09, Evans Ikua <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> wrote: >>> >>> There is also Camara Kenya (the local office of camara.ie) that has done >>> tremendous work in the area of putting hardware in schools, both Primary and >>> Secondary, installing open source software, supporting them, and training >>> the teachers. This in a short period of time. >>> >>> Their work has mainly been in the coast region but they are also getting >>> into the hinterland. They have about 150 volunteers from Ireland who have >>> just come in and they will conduct trainings for about a month. >>> >>> They have equipped schools in the whole of Lamu island, and many schools >>> at the coast. >>> >>> They are achieving much more by using FOSS as a computer installed with >>> Linux gives much more to a student as opposed to one installed with Windows. >>> Because they are not spending a penny on software licenses, they are able to >>> supply like twice the number of PCs than if they were to have the schools >>> buy licenses. >>> >>> Ikua >>> >>> -- >>> Evans Ikua >>> Linux Professional Association of Kenya >>> Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 >>> Eagle House, 2nd Floor >>> Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House >>> www.lpakenya.org >>> >>> >>> Quoting Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com>: >>> >>>> forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel Khisa >>>> <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> wrote: >>>> >>>> From: Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> >>>> Subject: RE: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an >>>> accreditation system for ICT courses >>>> To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> >>>> Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 AM >>>> >>>> And Project Discovery Kenya has been able to train more that 200 primary >>>> school teachers over the last five years in conjunction with Institute of >>>> Software technologies...I also know that similar training went on in Yala >>>> Division last April for Primary school teachers in the division organised >>>> by >>>> the Computers for Schools. >>>> On the subject of lack of adequate professors, I will leave that to >>>> Academicians and those keen on interrogating academics, I however would >>>> like >>>> the ICT training to move from over concentration with the academics and >>>> more >>>> to the more handson...more like incubator based learning approach...While >>>> the Far East economies have good universities, they still put more >>>> premium >>>> on handson skills...It is sad that even our graduate engineers let alone >>>> IT >>>> graduates (who by the way take a lot of flack) cannot invent or think >>>> outside the box...I mean no invention ever comes out of these highly >>>> restricted courses yet only a select few universities dare to venture >>>> into... >>>> >>>> The answer in my opinion lies in building skills that are more practical >>>> and >>>> focussed on creating entrepreneural opportunities. >>>> >>>> Rgds, >>>> >>>> Manu >>>> >>>> "New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any other >>>> reason but because they are not already common." >>>> P Before printing, think about the Environment and your responsibilities >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=kadet.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >>>> On >>>> Behalf Of Walubengo J >>>> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM >>>> To: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an >>>> accreditation system for ICT courses >>>> >>>> >>>> I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching >>>> fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80 high >>>> school >>>> headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving them >>>> basic >>>> ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such >>>> trainings >>>> regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in the >>>> right direction. >>>> >>>> As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the >>>> statistics >>>> are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in this >>>> country on your three fingers ;-) >>>> >>>> walu. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: >>>> >>>>> From: Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> >>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an >>>> >>>> accreditation system for ICT courses >>>>> >>>>> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>>> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Betty, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for your response on the article >>>>> mentioned below. Will go >>>>> through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which >>>>> ICT in Education has >>>>> already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all >>>>> of us have or may be >>>>> persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ?ICT Integration? is currently Ministry >>>>> of Education focus, and >>>>> steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya >>>>> improve both teaching and >>>>> learning environment, with better education ?products? >>>>> across all levels. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kind regards >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> B. K. Sang >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: >>>>> kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >>>>> On >>>>> Behalf Of Betty Ogange >>>>> >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM >>>>> >>>>> To: Barnabas K. Sang >>>>> >>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >>>>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality >>>>> - We lack an >>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hallo David, >>>>> Last week there was furore in this forum >>>>> about media >>>>> misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article >>>>> that you make >>>>> reference to in today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be >>>>> accurate in the areas that >>>>> you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with >>>>> a few points raised >>>>> in the article. >>>> >>>> http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ?Unlike other academic fields, very >>>>> little has been done >>>>> to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no >>>>> primary teacher training >>>>> college offers comprehensive pre-service training in >>>>> information technology.? >>>>> >>>>> Anyone with a modest interest in education in >>>>> Kenya would not >>>>> miss something as obvious as a subject in the national >>>>> curriculum when reporting >>>>> in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few >>>>> colleges had ICT skills >>>>> courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house >>>>> curricula that were >>>>> independently developed by each college. The Primary >>>>> Teacher Education (PTE) >>>>> ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of >>>>> Education has been in >>>>> force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a >>>>> compulsory subject in all >>>>> primary teacher training colleges. It is examined >>>>> internally at the end of >>>>> the first year and all students must pass in the subject, >>>>> among other >>>>> subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are >>>>> several >>>>> implementation hitches in this programme arising from the >>>>> fact that ICT is >>>>> being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and >>>>> has yet to be >>>>> mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum. >>>>> The debate around >>>>> ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to >>>>> operationalise it right >>>>> from curriculum development to classroom level >>>>> implementation continues in >>>>> the education circles. >>>>> >>>>> ?In-service training is often >>>>> provided by trainers who >>>>> are just barely literate in >>>>> computers? >>>>> >>>>> In my knowledge, this has happened especially >>>>> in instances when >>>>> some hardware providers ?dangle? teacher training as >>>>> an additional offer to >>>>> the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to >>>>> teach the course, but >>>>> in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has >>>>> posted trained >>>>> lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also >>>>> been some highly >>>>> professional training offered to college lecturers by >>>>> Microsoft (in >>>>> conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology - >>>>> IAT) and the Kenya >>>>> Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya >>>>> and the Nepad >>>>> e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached >>>>> teachers in selected >>>>> secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the >>>>> rest of the ICT >>>>> initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets >>>>> and time-lines have >>>>> compromised continuity and impact of some of these >>>>> training programmes. >>>>> >>>>> ?The >>>>> entire ICT education is in tatters? >>>>> An interesting analogy there. But I see a >>>>> sector that is struggling >>>>> with what some scholars in educational reform have called >>>>> an ?implementation >>>>> dip? ? that for a number of reasons things normally >>>>> tend to get worse before >>>>> they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in >>>>> implementing large >>>>> scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over. >>>>> In our country, >>>>> there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of >>>>> Education, the KIE and a >>>>> number of stakeholders in education, and these do count. >>>>> On the other hand, >>>>> there has been the tendency (by education leaders) >>>>> towards elaborate policy >>>>> documents, ?ICT networks? and trust funds whose >>>>> mandates remain >>>>> indeterminate. All these need to be researched and >>>>> accurately presented. >>>>> >>>>> Accurate reporting by the media and objective >>>>> analysis of both >>>>> the positives and difficulties are important in helping >>>>> the public target >>>>> their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the >>>>> use of expressions >>>>> such as ?in tatters? ?the situation is bad?, >>>>> ?alarmed professionals? >>>>> ?obsolete hardware? to describe ICT in education in >>>>> Kenya sounds to me fairly >>>>> sensational. >>>>> >>>>> Betty >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma >>>>> <otwomad(a)gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> >>>>> >>>>> Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We >>>>> lack an accreditation >>>>> system for ICT courses >>>>> >>>>> To: ogange(a)yahoo.com >>>>> >>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" >>>>> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>>> >>>>> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> .....universities >>>>> offer many degrees but their quality and market demand >>>>> differ...... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Although >>>>> nearly all universities offer degrees, only the >>>>> University of Nairobi, Jomo >>>>> Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and >>>>> Strathmore have >>>>> Master?s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at >>>>> doctoral level. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> There >>>>> is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT >>>>> departments. According to >>>>> Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time >>>>> lecturers with PhDs >>>>> in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three >>>>> of six, which is the >>>>> same number for Strathmore. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kenyatta >>>>> University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD >>>>> or an equivalent >>>>> qualification, while none of the Kabarak?s eight >>>>> lecturers have a PhD. Two of >>>>> six of United States International University has >>>>> doctoral degrees. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Many >>>>> lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as >>>>> engineers, software >>>>> developers or in the emerging area of computer and >>>>> network security. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> See >>>> >>>> >>>> http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& >>>>> >>>>> for full story >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> David Otwoma, >>>>> >>>>> Chief Science Secretary, >>>>> >>>>> National Council for Science and Technology, >>>>> >>>>> Utalii House 9th Floor, >>>>> >>>>> Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, >>>>> >>>>> Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, >>>>> >>>>> P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya >>>>> >>>>> email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke >>>>> >>>>> www.ncst.go.ke >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> >>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>>> >>>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> >>>>> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet. >>>> co.ke >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eunicekariuki%40ict.go… > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com

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Quotations Invited: ICT standards web portal
by Gakuru Alex 03 Jul '09

03 Jul '09

Local Software Developers/ICT Solution providers, You are hereby invited to submit quotations for the provision of: 1. Open Source website Content Management System (CMS) services 2. Open Source website Document Management System (DMS) services Your quotation should include, among others, CMS: a) customisation costs, b) cost of template, c) deployment costs d) cost of training 4 persons (administrator and 3 users) e) post installation & training support costs f) etc.. DMS: a) customisation costs, b) cost of template, c) deployment costs d) cost of training 4 persons (administrator and 3 users) e) post installation & training support costs f) etc.. If you feel that you can offer above ICT services please send your quotations by email to the undersigned addressed to: Alex Gakuru, The Chairman, Working Group, SC 34 Technical Committee(TC), Kenya Bureau of Standards email: gakuru(a)gmail.com

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(US) Government launches website to track IT spending
by Christopher Kiagiri 02 Jul '09

02 Jul '09

Remember last month when Obama's CIO announced data.gov (which has already grown from 47 data sets to over 100,000)? ... Well, VK didn't stop there. Now there's USAspending.gov (details below). http://www.washingtonpost.com/<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR200906300…> wp-dyn/content/article/2009/<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR200906300…> 06/30/AR2009063001370.html?<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR200906300…> hpid=moreheadlines<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR200906300…> Government Launches Web Site to Track IT Spending By Kim Hart<http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/kim+hart/> Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, June 30, 2009; 10:29 AM NEW YORK, June 30 -- Vivek Kundra, the federal chief information officer, on Tuesday announced a new Web site designed to track more than $70 billion in government information technology spending, showing all contracts held by major firms within every agency. The revamped site, USAspending.gov <http://usaspending.gov/>, was launched early this morning, and Kundra unveiled it at the Personal Democracy Forum conference on technology and politics. The site shows detailed information about whether IT contracts are being monitored and budgets being met. "Everyone knows there have been spectacular failures when it comes to technology investments," Kundra said. "Now for the first time the entire country can see how we're spending money and give us input." The site is the latest effort by Kundra and the Office of Management and Budget to make data about the government's projects and performance visible to the public. Citizens and Web developers can parse the data, combine it with other data sets and publish the results on Web feeds or their Facebook profiles. The data also show which contracts were won through a competitive process or in a no-bid method, which has been criticized by good-government advocates for excluding firms from business opportunities. Each prime contractor is listed as well as the status of that project; sub-contractors are not yet shown on the site. Last month, Kundra launched Data.gov <http://data.gov/>, a repository for data feeds that are publicly available but often hard to find. The site started with 47 data sets. Kundra said there are now more than 100,000. Kundra's announcement was met with cheers and a standing ovation from the Twittering crowd at a Lincoln Center auditorium. The launch fulfills one of the promises Kundra made to Congress, in which he pledged to develop a new way of monitoring federal technology spending by the end of June. Launching a site that makes spending practices open to the public met some opposition from the agencies' chief information officers and government contractors, some of whom were nervous about letting citizens who aren't familiar with the contracting process and technology needs of the government judge the spending decisions. Kundra said he met with every agency and dozens of company executives over the past six weeks. "I talked to the CIO Council and saw the data change overnight," Kundra said. "It was cleaned up immediately when people realized it was going to be made public." A federal report last year found that $30 billion worth of IT projects were not going smoothly or were in danger of failing. Kundra pointed to a $6 million project to use wireless devices in gathering information for the U.S. Census. After two years, it was deemed unsuccessful and census takers reverted to using the old paper-based system. "We've seen this with system after system," he said. "Vendors over-promise and budgets have run away in terms of excessive spending. We're trying to provide you with the tools to let American people show us a better way." Because the data change frequently as IT contracts change, the feeds run the risk of containing inaccuracies. Maintaining and updating the databases is also labor-intensive and some agencies say the initiative creates an enormous workload for them. "There is a good chance you'll go through this and find places where the data is wrong, and that's okay," said Macon Phillips, new media director for the White House. "I'd rather have this up and out there than not at all."

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Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Bill Kagai 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

Tim, et al, Am overcome by acute nostalgia when FOSS is mentioned because we chased policy agenda from the Economic Commission of Africa in Addis to Tunis via Geneva in the corridors of International Telecommunication Union under the auspices of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) between 2004-2006. But the lesson that made me finally see the light was triggered by the post election violence in January 2008 when a company am associated with was contracted by NPWJ and KNCHR to document evidence. Browse through the attached pdf document, you will realize there is actually no crisis in technology deployed and that it does not matter what technology is deployed during crisis. An ICC judge Benard Lavigne, now a prosecutor in Toulouse used this database and told us it was miles ahead of what they use at ICC. Am also waiting for my day with the prosecutor albeit for totally different reasons that could also fatten my wallet in due course....(life is good). Bill On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 5:02 PM, Mwololo Tim<timwololo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dr. Ndemo, > > I hear you loud and clear. I know the debate can be quite heated for many > reasons. It would be nice to have the procurement rules and any other > instrument of government to be silent on this issue. I only wish the people > were neutral! > > Sang has a very important point, which may need a guided discussion. > > Mwololo > > > On 7/1/09, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >> >> Prof. Waema, >> A good policy levels the play ground. What each party (Proprietary or >> OSS) does should not concern policy. That is why we need the procurement >> rules change to give everybody an equal chance. >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >> >> >> >> > Bwana Sang, >> > >> > You have a point. We do not have strong OSS champions, especially in the >> > public sector - at least not as powerful as the evangilists for >> > proprietary >> > software. This situation is not helped by a non-committal policy. Let me >> > chew over how we can change things. >> > >> > Mwololo >> > >> > >> > On 6/30/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: >> >> >> >> Tim, >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I agree with you to some extent, that we all need revision of the >> >> current >> >> ICT Policy to accommodate the key issues Kenya currently is focusing >> >> on. >> >> On >> >> OSS, I still doubt capacity of “*OSS Champions*” on the issue having >> >> observed in the past one year, how an opportunity to have 210 secondary >> >> schools each equipped with 25 PCs and use both proprietary software and >> >> OSS >> >> (Funds provided for) progressed. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> To date, no OSS proponents have brought any concept on how MOE can >> >> facilitate the adoption and use of OSS. There are some brilliant OSS >> >> solutions, particularly supporting teaching and learning (animated >> >> content >> >> -> good for illustrations of difficult concepts in some subjects) and >> >> development of content for use by all education and training >> >> stakeholders >> >> (teachers, students, parents and researchers). >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I would like to acknowledge existence of sufficient leadership (policy >> >> and >> >> managers) to support modernization of education (ICT integration to >> >> teaching >> >> and learning). We may not have all necessary capacity yet for >> >> decision-makers to guide the process, but in partnership with all >> >> stakeholders, I believe OSS will definitely find a niche in the whole >> >> ICT >> >> integration exercise being spearheaded by MOE. Perhaps people like >> >> yourself >> >> and others in this network, could enlightened us on how OSS could be >> >> part of >> >> ICT integration efforts at an early stage as possible. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Kind Regards >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> B. K. Sang >> >> >> >> >>

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Re: [kictanet] shaping history - the revolution of the fibre
by Walubengo J 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

good qtn MM. In some forums, they are saying the President was duped again - and officially opened another "blank". We need to know when or if this new pipe is now pumping packets/data. And I dont think such data falls under the (in?) famous " Official secrecy Act"... walu. --- On Fri, 6/26/09, Muriuki Mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> wrote: From: Muriuki Mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> Subject: [kictanet] shaping history - the revolution of the fibre To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Friday, June 26, 2009, 4:40 PM Hi history was made on 12th June when the fibre landed - and it threatens to open up the region like the railway did in 1900's... Special congrats to Dr Bitange Ndemo and all those who contributed to this revolution . the ict terrain will never be the same again -EVER the next step is the light and the byte. when will the first byte land here on the fibre? cheers Muriuki Mureithi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com

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[Fwd: [ISOC] Now accepting applications [ISOC Fellowship to the IETF]]
by alice 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

Dear Colleagues, The Internet Society has announced that it is seeking applications for the next round of the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF program. The program offers engineers from developing countries fellowships that fund the cost of attending an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting. As you know, the IETF is the Internet's premier standards-making body, responsible for the development of protocols used in IP-based networks. IETF participants represent an international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers involved in the technical operation of the Internet and the continuing evolution of Internet architecture. Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive application process. The Internet Society is currently accepting fellowship applications for the next two IETF meetings: * IETF 76 being held in Hiroshima, Japan, 8-13 November 2009 * IETF 77 being held in Anaheim, USA, 21-26 March 2010 Up to six fellowships will be awarded for each IETF meeting. Full details on the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF, including how to apply, are located on the ISOC website at : http://www.isoc.org/educpillar/fellowship Fellowship applications for both IETF meetings are due by 31 July 2009. The Internet Society formally launched the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF program in January 2007 after successfully piloting the program during 2006 at IETF 66 in Montreal and IETF 67 in San Diego. Forty seven individuals from 29 countries have participated in the program since its inception. I encourage you to pass information about this program to individuals involved in your regional operators' groups that have a keen interest in the Internet standardisation activities of the IETF. You also may consider being a reference for the applicant. If you have questions, please do not hesiate to contact Connie Kendig <kendig(a)isoc.org> or Mirjam Kuehne <mir(a)isoc.org>. Kind Regards, Connie J Kendig ISOC _______________________________________________ Isoc-members-announce mailing list Isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/isoc-members-announce

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