Hi,
It seems that some sanity is coming into the education realm with the Hon. Minister Dr. Ongeri canceling the proposed ICT Bus project, I believe once bitten twice shy.
The project was to cost Kes. 1.2 B with each bus costing Kes. 7 Million which equates to 171 buses that is roughly 24 buses per province this was surely another scan in the making. I remember the MP of Kisumu Hon. Shabbir raising the issue of the buses and getting dismissed as a self seeking technology Neanderthal, lets hope this is the beginning of sanity in the ICT arena, but if I was you I wouldn't hold my breath.
I suspect that the concept of mobile computer labs was a thinking from the mobile library project but someone forgot that with a library the books are left behind.
With Kes 7 million we could do much more than just a single bus with 20 computer that requires a driver, insurance, service, generators, and many other thinks.
Here is my suggestion on how the 7 million could be better utilised to meet the objectives.
- 20% to be used for physical facilities (stone & mortar) - Kes. 1.4 M - This can build 150 sq m of classroom space inclusive of electrical wiring & burger proofed windows. An average computer lab is 15 sq m which means we can build 10 labs and each can accommodate 20 screens/pcs. We could build even more labs if the Ministry if Housing provided the interlocking soil block making machines
- 30% to be used for provision of power to the lab - Kes. 2.1 million we which we need to provide sufficient power. The computers will need to be low power consumers therefore we use TFT screens and cpu sharing devices that allow 1 computer to be used simultaneously by 4 or
more students. With this our power requirement for each lab would be below 1,000 VA which can easily be supplied by a few solar panels and a battery bank.
- 20% for the actual hardware - Kes. 1.4 M - DC powered computers, printers and GSM modem with a good proxy server to provide local caching. This will also include structured cabling which will be done by the graduats of the kazi kwa Vijani initiative where they will have been offered technical training.
- 20% teacher training - Kes. 1.4 M, even if we have them certified in ICDL we shall be able to train 66 teachers which would provide enough computer teachers.
- 10% well I leave you to decide what to do with that, note that there are no recurrent costs such as drivers, diesel, electricity costs (God does not charge for solar, yet).
The 10 labs can be used by the schools during the day and could be made available to the community in the evenings and as
digital villages over the weekends where content can be generated, yes local content (ask me for details).
Now that I have spend the equivalent of 1 bus to create 10 centers why won't we actually do this, because I did not factor in the feasibility study costs, 30%, seminars and workshops 50%, sitting allowances 20% and well nothing else to include as the preliminary costs have already consumed the 7 million.
Ongeri hurray but lets hope the money will not go to drinking water and writing materials for a bonding session.
Regards
Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696