At least 369,400 children and young people including those with disabilities from underserved areas such as arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS) are set to benefit from digital connectivity.
This is after the Ministry of Education, European Union in Kenya and UNICEF Kenya on Thursday launched the last-mile connectivity for schools project.
The project will connect 1,000 primary schools to the Internet and enhance learning opportunities for over 369,400 learners.
The project is being implemented through the GIGA Programme, a global initiative to connect every school to the Internet by 2030 set up by the United Nations Children’s Fund Unicef and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The EU grant of Sh 1.5 billion (€9.8 million) will finance infrastructure and the development of skills and digital educational services to schools across 47 counties benefitting more than 219,000 children.
“In the past three years, Unicef and ITU, through the Giga Project, have supported the Kenyan Government to connect 429 schools to the internet, reaching 230,000 learners,” UNICEF Kenya Representative Shaheen Nilofer said.
According to Nilofer, 35 of these schools have now been connected to the national fiber infrastructure thanks to technical support from the Information and Communications Technology Authority.
"This generous support and partnership with the EU will further build on the learning gains by connecting yet another 1,000 schools, reaching 369,400 children and young people, including those with disabilities," Nilofer added.
As part of her official visit to Kenya, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen launched the Digital Economy Package for Kenya on Thursday.
The Commissioner announced the Digital Package during her visit to Kilimani Primary School in Nairobi where she visited the Computer Lab.
Urpilainen was joined at the school by Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and Information, Communications and The Digital Economy PS John Tanui.
The Package will be implemented through the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Human Centred Digitalisation in Kenya.
Team Europe consists of the European Union and EU Member States including their implementing agencies and public development banks.
“I am proud that Team Europe is investing in Kenya’s digital transition under Global Gateway,” Urpilainen said.
“Expanding digital connectivity, upskilling jobs and driving digital governance and services is at the heart of our investment strategy is about creating sustainable connections and local added value while cutting unsustainable dependencies.”
The commissioner further noted that digital inclusion is key for connecting people to public services and making public institutions more accountable.