A Murang’a primary school has benefited with a computer lab to support digital learning especially for learners of junior secondary school.

Learners of Mjini primary school located at the outskirts of Murang’a town were gifted with the lab equipped with 10 computers among other supporting equipment by a former student as a way of giving back to the society.

Kamau Wairuri under his foundation said the computer lab will go a long way to promote digital learning especially to learners of the competency based curriculum.

Launching the lab, Kamau said when he visited the school some months back, the administration expressed concerns for lack of computers to train on digital skills.

‘After engaging the school administration, I approached some of my friends and we managed to put up a computer lab powered by solar energy. The lab will serve the school population as we understand each class has an average of 40 pupils,’ explained Kamau.

He underscored the need for digital learning saying Mjini primary is located
at an informal settlement and the majority of parents could not help their children to search online for needed learning materials.

Kamau challenged the government to factor more funding so as to boost digital learning in primary schools, especially those in rural areas.

‘The previous government’s project of providing tablets to class one learners back in 2013 was a noble move but that project was poorly implemented. If the tablets were well managed and successfully installed with new syllabus to support CBC, then they could be useful to date.’ he observed.

In the new era, Kamau noted learning in many is institutions is to be integrated with digital skills thus the need for all schools in the country to have active computer labs.

The head teacher of the school, Ms Christine Michubu said learners have been relying on their parents’ phones to do assignments that require digital apparatus.

‘It has been a big challenge especially to CBC learners some of whose subjects require internet connected phones, but w
ith the lab, the challenge will be mitigated.’ Noted Michubu.

The school, she added, has a population of more than 500 students saying there is need for more computers so as to serve the learners adequately.

‘We call upon well-wishers and organizations to support us to have more computers for our lab,’ she appealed.

Source: Kenya News Agency