On Wednesday, Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and Innovation inaugurated a digital skills training program for 20 million Kenyans.
Digital literacy is vital for all Kenyans, according to ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, who presided over the event.
Mucheru stated that in this digital era, when the majority of government services have been digitized, Kenyans must be equipped with the necessary technology capabilities.
“We urge Kenyans willing to enroll and learn digital skills to log into citizen.icta.go.ke. website and register,” he stated.
Digital literacy should be taught to the general public, according to ICT Authority acting CEO Kipronoh Ronoh.
The program is being launched at a time when the Ministry has already released the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022-2032, which is a strategy for leveraging and extending the ICT sector’s contribution to socioeconomic growth.
According to Ronoh, the Ministry has already handed more than 1.2 million computers to students in Kenyan public schools, as well as linked electricity to more than 22,000 schools and provided teacher devices to more than 22,000 schools as part of its efforts to encourage digital literacy.
As part of measures to equip learners with 21st century skills such as problem solving and algorithmic thinking, the Ministry, in collaboration with Kodris Africa, is set to roll out a pilot project for the coding syllabus in 150 public schools as part of measures to equip learners with 21st century skills such as problem solving and algorithmic thinking, starting at the elementary level.
“Incorporating coding into the school curriculum will improve pupils’ technological skills and position them to succeed in the ever-changing world of technology.” The main work, according to Kodris CEO Mugumo Munene, is to prepare pupils for the labor market.