By Fredrick Obura
Teachers will now acquire laptops complete with broadband Internet connection from Safaricom at affordable rates.
This is courtesy of a partnership signed yesterday between Equity Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and the Teachers Service Commission.
"We have realised the value addition ICT holds to the education sector. Over-priced infrastructure like the laptops and Internet continue to lock out many teachers," said Michael Joseph, the Safaricom Chief Executive Officer.
"The new partnership will address issues on cost and increase technology penetration in classrooms, " he said.
Equity Bank will provide credit facilities to teachers, while Safaricom will make acquisition of the devices, bundled with Internet usage, possible through its 32-strong retail centre network in the country.
Each laptop bought through the scheme would be entitled to a free broadband modem loaded with monthly data usage for a year or a stretched period based on the loan repayment period.
Other freebies in the offer include the KIE syllabus loaded on the laptop, free anti-virus and genuine Microsoft windows applications.
Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi said the deal is a major breakthrough to better education and will improve utility of the Internet and the expansive data infrastructure Safaricom has put together.
Credit terms
Equity bank with branches all over the country would avail affordable and flexible credit terms to over 240,000 teachers under the Teachers Service Commission.
"Teachers play a crucial role in imparting knowledge to students, it is a key cornerstone in the country's economic blueprint Vision 2030. This deal will empower them in contributing towards the crucial role," said Dr Mwangi.
Louis Otieno General Manager Microsoft East and Central Africa said access to technology by students and teachers is important in accelerating learning, and improving the quality of education.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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