On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 10:59 AM, Evans Ikua <ikua@lpakenya.org> wrote:

Yes there is Open ICDL that is open source. So my problem with this directive is not about platforms, but costs. ICDL is way out of reach for the widest majority of Kenyans. I also have a problem with Foreign certificates. As someone has said, cant our KIE develop a local certificate that can be used here? After all its just something for the local market.

How was this reached at? What other options were considered and by whom? Is this another policy decision that does not involve the industry players? Given a chance, I would have opted for a more open certification like The INGOTS - http://theingots.org/, or better still one locally developed. How long will we continue sending out our Forex for pieces of paper?

--
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 robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>:

I am advised that the training has an open source component but what happens to all the resources that have been spent in developing all the alternative curriculum?

This whole issue stinks as it stifles local initiatives, why would anyone want to develop any local curriculum in any field if it is likely to end up negated?

What stops the "government" from doing the same with nursery (KHA), Primary, secondary and tertiary curriculum and just hand it over to some foreign body to develop curriculum and examine? We have trained many curriculum developers over the years many sitting at our institutions of higher learning and KIE do we then sent them home?

You will hear arguments that the world is becoming a global village then why don't we stop wasting our time electing leaders every five years and just outsource the leadership or franchise it from a preferred developed country, this is invited recolonization note it begins with the mind then the body.

Seems I might be the only person who sees an issue here, well again ignorance is bliss.

Like a jigger it all starts with a little mole.

Robert Yawe

KAY System Technologies Ltd

Phoenix House, 6th Floor

P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200

Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

--- On Thu, 26/11/09, Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote:

From: Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICDL Directive a slap in the face
To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Thursday, 26 November, 2009, 6:32

Wesley is right on the issue of platform. But on the other hand, Robert has a point about the costs of testing. Does the government have a plan to reduce the cost of ICDL testing?

Crystal

On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 9:25 AM, wesley kirinya <kiriinya2000@yahoo.com> wrote:

This issue was discussed a while back and I believe Dr. Ndemo confirmed that it's not Microsoft only products that can be used in ICDL. Check the history of the list, I think it was 3-4 weeks ago.

O_O

--- On Thu, 11/26/09, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [kictanet] ICDL Directive a slap in the face
To: kiriinya2000@yahoo.com

Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:01 AM

It was with shock and disbelieve when I read an article in the dailies indicating that the government has decided to use the Microsoft certification ICDL (International Computer Driving License) as the approved application compliance qualification.

This is definitely a slap in the faces of all those associations and government agencies that have over the years developed generic curriculum for applications certification. How does the government frustrate all this efforts for years just to wake up one morning and literally cripple our institutions because a "donor" as offered "free" services.

It is a fact that in 90% of cases the first sniff of cocaine that an addict took was given to them for free, due to its highly addictive properties the dealer knows that it will only be a matter of time before
that free sampler becomes a hooked
client.

The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), University of Nairobi, Computer Society of Kenya and even Pitmans have tried and tested curriculum for computer applications competency training. What makes this more practical that the ICDL is that they are generic and not product specific.

In addition they are cheaper to administer and examine all most of them require is just an upgrade so that exams can be administered online further reducing costs. The cost of examinations for ICDL is Ksh. 24,000/- at an exchange rate of 78/- to the dollar, this is equivalent to 1 year tuition for a University degree program. Are we really serious about encouraging ICT education and effective utilization?

"When they came for my neighbour I said nothing, when they came for my
brother I said nothing and when they came for me there was no one to
say anything"

We said nothing when Cisco moved in a set up so called Cisco Academies yet we all knew that this was wrong as Cisco teaches a product specific routing implementation based on their operating system which denies the graduand an open mind when it comes to providing solutions.

Microsoft was stopped from providing software and their certification programs to schools in the same way that depo provera was withdrawn from public health facilities in the US & Europe yet like a herd of sheep we adopt all blindly.

Can we please stop this madness!

Regards

Robert Yawe

KAY System Technologies Ltd

Phoenix House, 6th Floor

P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200

Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
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http://www.voicesofafrica.org/

"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi

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