[SIZE=6]Uganda to procure 10M radios, 137k TVs to facilitate home learning[/SIZE]
President Museveni directed Treasury to purchase 10 million radios and 137,466 solar-powered TV sets to be distributed to households - The gadgets will facilitate distant learning even as learners remain out of school owing to the COVID-19 pandemic - Museveni ordered the devices be assembled locally, a move set to challenge Uganda’s muscle in production of radios and TV -
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In Kenya, online learning has been adopted by some schools but the system has disadvantaged learners from poor backgrounds.
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has directed the country’s Treasury to acquire solar television sets and radios that will be used to facilitate homeschooling. In a move to ensure learning continues even as learners stay away from school due to the coronavirus pandemic,
In his directive, the Ugandan head of state said the gadgets needed to be assembled locally and with speed to pave way for the official commencement of home-based learning. With only two electronic’s assembly plants (Saachi and Zhang group), Museveni’s directive is set to test Uganda’s radio and TV production capacity, according to a report filed by Kampala based Daily Monitor on Monday, July 6.
It may also wage competition on imported devices which are common on the market if successful. According to the Uganda Revenue Authority, the country imported 1.3 million radios between 2014 and 2018.
As of Monday, July 6, Kampala had not eased most of its COVID-19 measures with schools and worship places remaining closed. The country had recorded 953 cases of the disease which included 892 recoveries with no related fatalities.
Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/366795-uganda-procure-10m-radios-137k-tvs-facilitate-home-learning.html
MEANWHILE IN KENYA
[SIZE=7] Where are laptops for e-learning, Senators ask Magoha [/SIZE]
[SIZE=5] Education CS Magoha to be summoned over inequality in e-learning [/SIZE]
In Summary
• Government on the spot for failure to put in place adequate measures to ensure e-learning for all children during Covid-19 pandemic.
• Senators demand to know what happened to laptops that cost the taxpayer billions of shillings.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LZU7_rmyf79hiq8lh0pInnt6X1Jn2d5FRtUM2OevVTZjQyyaZpgrKlVLxXxcClnVNU5WCRdP_tXALC2S8z-bl-mnuqvMAg=s750
CAUTION: Education CS George Magoha
Image: FILE
Recent remarks by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha that online learning was ongoing around the country elicited heated debate in the Senate Tuesday.
The lawmakers demanded to know the whereabouts of laptops for schools that cost billions of shillings.
Senators accused the government of failing to put in place adequate measures to ensure e-learning for all learners during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They said that despite spending billions of shillings, more than 80 per cent of Kenya’s children are not accessing online learning because they lack gadgets and other essential items.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-05-19-where-are-laptops-for-e-learning-senators-ask-magoha/
[SIZE=7] E-learning not a problem, most students have smartphones - CS Magoha [/SIZE]
In Summary
• The CS also said that the schools will continue with the syllabus once schools resume.
• He ruled out the possibility of disadvantaged students being left out from e-learning.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha defended his ministry on the step taken to offer e-learning to students following the unexpected early closure of schools due to the novel coronavirus.
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee on Thursday, the CS said the majority of the secondary school students have access to smartphones enabling them to access e-learning content being offered.
“If you go to any secondary school, you will be shocked. It is only that we do not allow them. If we allowed them to carry phones to school, you will realise that all the secondary school students have smartphones," Magoha said.
The CS also said that the schools will continue with the syllabus once schools resume.
He ruled out the possibility of disadvantaged students being left out from e-learning.
He was responding to the concern raised by Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali who said that disadvantaged learners risk being left behind by those privileged with access to online learning.
[SIZE=6] North Eastern leaders blast CS Magoha over online learning [/SIZE]
By Hillary Orinde | May 7th 2020 at 16:45:30 GMT +0300
Some leaders from North Eastern have blasted Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha B[/B] over his assertion that online learning is ongoing across the country.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Economic Freedom Party (EFP) chairman Issak Abey said learners in the region cannot access the lessons offered through radio, TV and online platforms.
Duale said the ongoing rains have also forced families to leave their homes to camp in public schools for safety, thus denying the learners opportunity to continue with home learning.
SEE ALSO: E-voucher scheme delivers essential goods to vulnerable families free of charge
“The schools in Garissa are now being used by flood victims. There is no radio, let’s not cheat ourselves. Let the CS come out clearly and even tell us this exam he is not going to postpone; it is like he knowns when coronavirus is going to end,” charged Duale.
In a statement, Abey said learners in the region are worst affected by the pandemic as they cannot access the platforms used by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to offer online learning
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001370514/north-eastern-leaders-blast-cs-magoha-over-online-learning#