Mbukoni residents and over 500 pupils from Mbukoni Comprehensive School in Machakos County will have access to free internet and computer services after completion of a smart library.
The facility officialy, opened on Friday, July 3 after months of construction, will have 37 modern computers and learning wall comprosing of different learning materials.
Speaking during the official hand over ceremony, Eunice Pholmann — the founder of a non governmental organisation namely Women in Technology and Innovation Africa — said the community has been lagging behind for decades in terms of Internet access and digital literacy, the same reason they built the facility.
The modern smart library will offer free internet services, free learning space and training to the school pupils and community as well. Eunice noted the move is aimed at reducing burdens from parents who have been unable to access government services for decade deu to lack of such facilities and used to travel long distances to acquire such essential services.
The school headteacher, Madam Winfred Mukami, noted that it has been a challenge to conduct CBE education without such facilitity in place and it completion is a game changer to the school and community at large.
According to Mukami, in the recent past since introduction of Competency Based Education, many pupils were unable to complete simple digital literacy learning home work. She gave an example of a situation where in a class of 40 pupils, only one child could complete a simple digital literacy homework. But thanks to Eunice and team from Women in Technology and Innovation Africa, the school is in position to offer digital learning lessons without struggles.
Sediments echoed by Dr. Balla Namango, a board member from Women in Technology and Innovation Africa, notimg even farmers from Mbukoni villages will have an opportunity to use the facility in search of digital farming skills and data saving.
Beyond the library, Women in Technology and Innovation Africa has also renovated three classrooms at the school to create a more conducive learning environment.
The Mbukoni facility is Women in Technology and Innovation Africa’s second Smart Library after the successful establishment of a similar centre at Nkaimurunya Comprehensive School in Kajiado County.
The organisation plans to roll out more smart libraries across underserved schools in Kenya as part of efforts to bridge the digital divide and improve equitable access to quality education.
