FYI -------------------------- July 8th, 2013 PRESS RELEASE ON LAPTOP STANDARD ONE CHILD PROGRAMME RE: ONE LAPTOP PER-STANDARD ONE CHILD PROGRAMME We in the publishing industry in Kenya recognise our central role as key players in the production of educational materials – such as digital content, text books and other related teaching aids – for use in all schools in the delivery and implementation of the requisite school curriculum. We further recognise and appreciate the role of the Ministry of Education – and its specialised arms like the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) – in policy formulation and provision of the supportive legislation framework aimed at enhancing Public-Private partnership in the administration and service of the education sector. Kenya Publishers Association (KPA), is a reliable partner in education. More importantly, we are always prepared to make the necessary sacrifices and investment enhancements in terms of finance, time, personnel and technology in order to assist the government deliver on its mandate in the education sector. This, we have done many times even at the shortest of time. In this regard, KPA suggest for the successful implementation of the Government’s one laptop per-child project from January 2014 in all Kenyan public schools a number of recommendations with the mutual aim of ensuring successful implementation of the project and surmounting the challenges experienced in other countries that have attempted to implement a similar programme: 1. TEACHERTRAINING For the laptop project to be successful there will be need for teacher training on how to use the devices. Publishers are ready and willing to use our pool of industry expertise to collaborate with the MoE to offer the requisite teacher training – as they have done over the years by conducting teachers’ seminars and workshop on effective ways of using the Instructional Materials we publish in curriculum implementation. 2. WHAT GADGET WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROGRAMME? The gadget that the MoE purchases has to take into consideration various factors such as: a) Effectiveness to user; b) Ease of local availability c) Price affordability d) Training availability e) Simplicity of software update f) Convenience of infrastructural factors like power g) Ragged enough for the level of student using it (durability) h) Affordability of software being used i) Internet-enabled? j) CD Rom-compatibility k) Flash disc applicability, etc All these factors and more need to be considered. KPA suggests that the MoE carefully considers the basic two factors below: · Policy: MOE policy should guide on the gadget to be used. · Procurement:Purchasing and sustainability of the programme. Publishers’ content would greatly determine what gadget the MoE would purchase. 3. PILOTING The MoE needs to sufficiently prepare and pretest with a pilot project and if a pilot test has been done KPA would appreciate to see the outcome to find ways that it can serve the MoE laptop project better. KPA is ready to be part of the testing and piloting if none has been done in the spirit of public-private partnership. 4. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS The most vibrant education systems that deliver results have one common element: a strong public-private sector alliance that allows the private sector to invest in education services and products (including text books, reference materials, digital and educational solutions in general) and leaves the government to play the facilitative role of policy formulation and crafting of the enabling legislative framework. The government should not waste time and resources in areas where the private sector can make the greatest contribution. For the laptop programme to be effective it has to be wholly inclusive and relevant personnel in both Ministries of Education and ICT should be ready to be engaged and share information with publishers and other stakeholders; for the best way forward. Publishers contribute about 98% of all curriculum support materials that are used in our education institutions today. As we speak, KPA members have sufficient digital curriculum support materials, adequate for the roll out of the lap top project. However, we believe that the government would have been better advised to roll out a more structured and all inclusive ICT platform in primary and secondary schools, probably at the same or cheaper cost. Never the less, we are ready to support the MOE in provision of relevant, vetted digital content. 5. KICD ROLE IN PUBLISHING: There has been several mentions of KICD providing digital content. We have held several meetings with the KICD director who has assured us that KICD has no interest or will to publish digital content for the laptop project. We have also been assured by the Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kaimenyi that digital content will be provided by the publishers. KPA recommends that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) should limit its operations to its mandate of Curriculum Design; Curriculum Review; Publication of Curriculum Materials like the syllabi; Vetting and Approval of Instructional Materials to be used in schools. The function of the KICD as a provider of ancillary information must be clearly delinked from mainstream publishing of curriculum support materials, may they be print or digital. 6. CAPITATIONS: KPA recommends to the MoE a review of the current text book capitation so that the digital content for the lap top programme is not absorbed in the text book capitation. KPA recommends a different capitation for the digital content. Emphasis though should be laid on the fact that the digital content will act as supplementary material for the text books; and not an outright replacement of the text books. We also recommend speedy creation of ICT infrastructure within the country to enable effective implementation of this project. Publishers look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve our mutual goal of producing ICT savvy citizens who will operationalize vision 2030 and drive this country to its destination of middle-level industrialization by the year 2030. Finally we are asking for a speedy solution to the current stalemate between TSC and KNUT. The effects of this strike on the ground are grave. The public school students may not be able to finish the curriculum as set, which will translate to widening the gap and the in equality between private schools and public schools performance in national examinations. We hope that this issue will be amicably resolved in the shortest of time. Yours Sincerely LAWRENCE NJAGI CHAIRMAN KENYA PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve! 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