EU launches Digital Economy literacy package for schools
The European Union yesterday launched a Digital Economy package for Kenya aimed at expanding the connectivity of schools and establishing a green digital innovation hub.
The package was launched yesterday by European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen as part of her official visit to Kenya.
She also announced €9.8 million (Sh15 billion) Team Europe support to the digitalization of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres around the country, which will leverage funds from the German and French Development Finance Institutions and the Government of Kenya to reinforce digital reform in the TVET sector.
“As part of the Global Gateway investment strategy – the EU’s positive offer to advance the twin digital and green transition and to deliver trusted and sustainable connections to partner countries – the package reflects the EU’s strong commitment to Kenya’s technological transition by expanding the connectivity of schools, providing skills training for students and establishing a green digital innovation hub,” the commissioner said in a press statement.
“I am proud that Team Europe is investing in Kenya’s digital transition under Global Gateway, expanding digital connectivity, upskilling jobs and driving digital governance and services is at the heart of what our investment strategy is about: creating sustainable connections and local added value, while cutting unsustainable dependencies.”
Making institutions accountable
“Digital inclusion is key for connecting people to public services and making public institutions more accountable. As a former teacher I am particularly happy about the digital opportunities we can offer to learners.”
One of the key deliverables of the Digital Package features the Last Mile Digital Connections to Underserved Areas programme. In Kenya, this programme will reduce the digital gap by providing internet for up to 1,300 schools in marginalized areas such as arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS).
The EU grant of €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.
It 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).
Digital package
Commissioner Urpilainen announced the Digital Package during her visit to Kilimani Primary School in Nairobi where she visited the Computer Lab.
She was joined at the school by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu and Principal Secretary for Information, Communications and The Digital Economy John Tanui as well as the UNICEF Kenya Country Representative, Shaheen Nilofer, EU Ambassadors (Team Europe) among other partners.
Team Europe’s Digital Economy Package for Kenya aims to increase digital connectivity, provide digital skills support and ensure open and inclusive digital governance.
The EU and Germany are jointly supporting the creation of a green digital innovation hub while the EU works on e-government in partnership with Estonia and Germany and Govstack (a community-driven initiative formed from a multi-lateral partnership between Germany, Estonia, ITU and the Digital Impact Alliance) as well as on data protection, digitalization of land governance, customs processes, procurement and e-justice and cyber security.
The Package will be implemented through the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Human Centred Digitalization in Kenya. Team Europe consists of the European Union and EU Member States including their implementing agencies and public development banks.
The expected contributions to the TEI amounts to €430 million and partners include Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Slovakia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Austria, the European Investment Bank, AFD, FMO, FinFund and KfW.
They proposed that the government urgently send a contingent of GSU officers to the border area to restore peace and security, while at the same time calling for expedition of the process to resolve the border boundary disputes. “The issue of the boundary between the two counties should be settled expeditiously using lawful and proper government procedures,” the statement continued.
