@Wangari +1 We need the plan to make constructive contributions.  Remember,  the  concerns from some quarters should NOT be construed to mean sabotaging the good plans government has.  We simply wish to enhance the same and perhaps minimize the impact of the unavoidable pilferage (read: being ripped off). walu. ________________________________ From: WANGARI KABIRU <wangarikabiru@yahoo.co.uk> To: Evans Ikua <ikua.evans@gmail.com>; Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> Cc: "godiaes@yahoo.com" <godiaes@yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>; "isoc@orion.my.co.ke" <isoc@orion.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2013 4:45 PM Subject: A Kind Request for the Government Plan for Implementing the Free Laptops for Schools (MOE/MoIC/Vision 2030...?) Happy Thursday,   I hope you are very well.   Dr. Ndemo or Prof. Godia; Kindly assist us in getting this. A kind request, anyone who has the official Government Plan for implementation of the Free Laptops. (I do not mean the Microsoft or other partners who are/have/wish to be engaged etc or the Jubilee Manifesto).   It may be the official concept paper (white/green/draft/final..) from the Ministry of Education Teams and other associated Ministries.   This gives a framework for everyone contributing at the Strathmore Session that Dr.Ndemo/Barrack is putting together. It also becomes a basis for structured deliberations by this group on the various proposals for execution henceforth. The ISOCers et al views may then be presented at the Strathmore Session with the broader stakeholders.   If it does not exist then that is a different story- it means that this group has a blank template to create from...which I really do not think is the case 100%..   Have a pleasant day. Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". --- On Thu, 6/6/13, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [ISOC_KE] [kictanet] President Kenyatta secures Microsoft support for computers To: "Evans Ikua" <ikua.evans@gmail.com> Cc: "godiaes@yahoo.com" <godiaes@yahoo.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "isoc@orion.my.co.ke" <isoc@orion.my.co.ke> Date: Thursday, 6 June, 2013, 8:48

Ikua,

I feel you and I am tempted to support your sentiments.  But I think this issue runs deeper than whether we should use Proprietary (Microsoft) or Open source software for our pupils in standard 1.  My take is we are in a situation where we may  NOT have defined the learning objectives, the curriculum, the teaching/delivery/assessments  etc.  I wish I am wrong but I think we have NO EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATION of what we want this kids to come out with after blowing 60Billiion Ksh on laptops. 

In the absence of this specification, you will get all types of vendors surrounding you and selling you all types of hardware, curricula, software, etc.  And then the choice of whom you work with, will very much depend on which vendor can pull the heaviest punch - financially speaking.

But all is not lost, we just need to define educational specification and then panel-beat all the vendors to do what we want, not what THEY want. And maybe that specification exists but is a cabinet secret - and so we shall continue fire-fighting in darkness.

walu.

________________________________ From: Evans Ikua <ikua.evans@gmail.com> To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>; "isoc@orion.my.co.ke" <isoc@orion.my.co.ke> Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 8:54 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] President Kenyatta secures Microsoft support for computers

Dear Dr Ndemo, Now that you have outlined what MS will do, maybe you can share with us what is in it for them? I am sure they did not fly in their Global President for nothing. I suspect that they stand to gain immensely from this "partnership". The partners referred to must be their local distributors, or other Government agencies. They will win big and we will lose big time.

It would be good to know how much the laptops will cost, and how much of that cost will go to software, or to MS for that matter. If they are offering a free OS, or a subsidised one for that matter, just remember the analogy of dope - the first dose is always free, its the subsequent one that you pay for!

Dont even think about the fact that if we give proprietary solutions to our kids, we will be losing the opportunity to give them better options that are available in open source. But most sadly, we have just mortgaged our freedom and that of the future generations.

Ikua

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 8:18 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Barrack,

...

As I promised, Prof. Godia accepted to respond to your questions on Kicktanet.  You will need to fix e-mail, godiaes@yahoo.com into the mailing list to make it easier to reply.

I attended the State House function and Microsoft agreed to do the following:

1.      Work with different partners to Train ALL Primary School Teachers computers (more than 260,000) to enable them implement computer to schools programme by January.  They are ready to start as soon as the Government of Kenya gives the go-ahead to start the programme at County level; 2.      Work with different partners to develop and train at least five enterprises in each County to provide technical support in Hardware, Connectivity and Software to all schools within each County; and 3.      Develop a research and innovation hub at Konza Technology Park to support software developers in the region. 4. Work with other Hardware manufacturers to develop a sustainable model that includes local assembly of computers as well as local software and content development that can be replicated in other African countries

This will go a long way in realzing our President's commitment to achieving his promises to the Kenyan people.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Walu,

I think its time we focused on other issues, seems this project is a foregone conclusion. We will take stock in 2017.

Best Regards

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 2:59 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:

...

Whao!

When I grow up, I want to work for M$oft :-)

Sounds like they are concluding the deal to be on 1million laptops next year - as we are busy tweeting on what Software is relevant for pupils in Standard one. Read on @ http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Uhuru-secures-Microsoft-support-for-computers/-...

walu.

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