By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Kenya is placing greater
emphasis on digital skills, technology and character development in education
as the country accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
Principal Secretary for ICT
and Digital Economy Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui joined First Lady Rachel Ruto and
Principal Secretary for Basic Education John Ololtuaa for the official launch
of the SIBOH Schools & Sports Academy virtual home in Uasin Gishu County.
The virtual platform is
intended to extend learning beyond traditional classroom environments and
provide students with additional pathways to access knowledge, develop their
talents and engage with opportunities enabled by technology.
SIBOH’s values of
Servanthood, Integrity, Bravery, Optimism and Honour are positioned at the
centre of the academy’s approach to developing students, with an emphasis on
combining academic and technological capabilities with character and
leadership.
Tanui said Kenya’s evolving
education landscape requires schools to prepare learners for a rapidly changing
world in which technology is increasingly shaping how people learn, work and
create.
He highlighted ongoing
efforts to expand connectivity in schools, provide digital learning devices and
smartboards to more than 10,000 public Junior Secondary Schools and strengthen
foundational digital skills among learners.
However, he stressed that
technology should serve as an enabler rather than an end in itself, with
education systems required to equip young people with the ability to think
critically, innovate and solve problems.
The government is also
seeking to strengthen exposure to emerging fields including Artificial
Intelligence, Data Science and Cloud Computing, while maintaining a focus on
creativity, leadership, integrity and resilience.
Tanui said Kenya’s education
system must ultimately prepare young people not only to adapt to technological
change but also to develop the skills, values and confidence needed to shape
the country’s digital future.
