News Update July 2007

New Computers for Two Schools

CPSK Committee came to the conclusion that, owing to the problems experienced with the refurbished computers we had provided to our schools, it would be more prudent to supply new computers purchased at source. Research was carried out by Veronica and Peter and a contract to supply, set up and maintain new computers was drawn up with the Mitsumi Computer Garage, Mombasa.

Ten new computers from the Mitsumi Computer Garage with monitors, keyboards, mice and speakers were set up in both the Shimo-la-Tewa and Mtopanga Primary Schools. Due to heavy rains and flooding the roads to the schools were washed away and pupils had to help ferry the computers the last few metres to the school.

Educational Software that matched the Kenyan Syllabus was, selected by the schools and was installed on the computers.

Progress is Monitored

Each School was visited, progress was monitored and educational software was upgraded to meet their needs.

Standard 2 children at Mikoroshoni Primary School have adapted amazingly well to their computer lessons.

Work at Kadzandani Primary School has not been completed as planned

Due to severe weather conditions the installation of electricity at Kadzandani had not gone according to plan Kenya Power & Lighting have assured us that it will be completed by August.

All electrical fittings and computer work stations have been set up.

Glass louvers and security grills will be fitted in August.

IT Teacher Training

IT Teachers from all eight schools have registered to take part in the four week Certificated IT Course that will be run by Mombasa Polytechnic at Shimo-la-Tewa Primary School during their School Holidays in August.

In return for their IT Training and Certificate they will sign an agreement to give basic IT Instruction to other teachers and people in their immediate schools community for a period of twelve months.

E–Learning Africa 2nd International Conference for Development, Education and Training. Building Capacity for E-Learning in Africa

Veronica was honoured to be invited by Mr Arif, head of IT at Mombasa Polytechnic, to give a short talk at this Conference. With less than twelve hours notice to prepare for it, it was indeed a very short talk.

The Bamburi Primary School

Mr Slim Ahmed, Head Teacher of The Bamburi Primary School, is very enthusiastic to join us in The Bamburi Community Schools Group. His school is ideally situated in a small community that could very much benefit from the IT Facilities our project offers.

After much discussion with CPSK Committee, Mr Slim Ahmed, The Bamburi Cement Company who sponsor the school and the Camara Project who set up a Computer Lab’ at Bamburi Primary School, it has been agreed that CPSK will not officially accept them as part of the group but will help the school to get its computer lab up and running. Our carpenters will alter the work stations to make them more suitable for pupils of all ages; our electrician will alter the electrics accordingly, Moses, our IT Technician, will service their computers and install educational software. One of their teachers will join our IT Teachers in the Certificated IT Training course that will be paid by CPSK.

Margaret Mugaka The Education Officer for the whole of the Coastal Region of Mombasa is Guest Speaker at Our ITA Meeting

We were greatly honoured to have the Provincial Education Officer commend the work we were doing in her speech at our IT Association Meeting.

She labeled CPSK as pioneers in a field that was currently being addressed by the Kenyan Education Authorities and prompted the head teachers and IT Teachers at the meeting to lend their continued support to what she felt would be a model for the future development of IT in Kenya’s Government Primary Schools.

Fumathoka Primary School would like to Re-Join

Fumathoka Primary School was one of the first schools to join the Bamburi Community Schools Group. A Computer Lab that depended on Solar Energy was set up, Laptop computers with educational software were installed and teachers and pupils were given basic IT Instruction.

When the possibility of Mains Electricity became available the Fumathoka Committee declined to accept this thus making it impossible to continue with CPSK goals. They have now agreed that mains electricity is essential and are currently having it installed. CPSK have been asked to consider their rejoining the Project.

This issue will be considered at our next Meeting in September 2007.

Plans for the August Visit

Three of our members will be going to Mombasa in August.

Veronica will go for the whole month to oversee the IT Teacher Training and the completion of work at Kadzandani, Concordia and Kisauni Primary Schools. She will collect feedback sheets from IT Teachers and the IT Technician for the purpose of monitoring progress and updating accordingly.

Issabella will carry out a two week basic IT Training course for Head Teachers, Deputy Heads and other teachers who have registered for the course which was over subscribed.

Peter will research the possibilities for, and costs of, Internet Access to all of our Schools. He will run a check on the refurbished computers that are not working and are presently stored at Mtopanga Primary School. 

A decision will be made by CPSK and the ITA Association on how to distribute the redundant computers that are being replaced by new computers.