Source: DN
Posted  Thursday, July 28  2011 at  20:10

Teachers can now have a unique digital identity following the launch of a special website targeted at them.

Microsoft East and Southern Africa has officially unveiled mwalimukenya.org, a formal communication platform for all Kenyan teachers employed under Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Through the portal, TSC will provide all teachers with a digital identity and a formal email address.

Teachers will now enjoy direct communication with their employer, TSC, without physically travelling to the headquarters in Nairobi.

The website also makes curriculum delivery easy, eliminates the need to carry bulky books, simplifies planning lessons, sharing and storing documents online.
“To activate an account, a teacher simply needs to log on to the site, enter their TSC number and will instantly receive their @mwalimukenya.org email address,” said Mark Matunga, Regional Education Manager for Microsoft East and Southern Africa.

He was speaking during the Kenya Primary Schools Head teachers Association (KEPSHA) delegates’ conference in Mombasa on Tuesday where thousands of public primary school head teachers drawn from schools in Kenya have converged.
Addressing the conference, Joseph Karuga, National Chairman KEPSHA said the forum creates a favorable atmosphere for delegates to share experiences and best practices to help improve quality of education and the standards being realized in primary schools.

“In line with this year’s conference theme, based on Child Friendly Schools (CFS) initiative, schools must not only help children realize their right to a basic education, but also equip them with the skills to face the challenges of a new century.

The 21st century has seen rapid adoption of Information and Communications Technology and basic IT skills are now a requirement in society. It is therefore paramount that our schools start to integrate modern technology in the classrooms”, said Mr Karuga.

Mr Karuga urged the head teachers to share best practices especially around e-learning and technology solutions available to schools in Kenya.

While calling for the revision of the ICT strategy which was drafted five years ago, Mr. Matunga noted that a lot of progress had been made in digitizing education content through close partnerships with Microsoft, Kenya Institute of Education and Kenya Literature Bureau.

“Kenyan teachers now have access to a digital curriculum, the first of its kind in Africa”, said Mr Matunga.

To further make technology scalable to schools and bridge the digital divide, Matunga said Microsoft has availed Windows 7 and Office 2010 products at a subsidized cost to the Ministry of education.

Through a partnership with Safaricom and the Kenya Institute of Education, teachers across the country also stand to benefit from basic ICT training, supply of computers, e-learning accessories and high speed internet connectivity through the Teacher Laptop Program.
In showcasing the latest technology solutions designed for schools at the conference, Microsoft displayed the recently launched Windows Multipoint Server 2011. It is a Windows-based solution designed specifically to help educational institutions give every student individual access to PCs by allowing multiple users to simultaneously share one computer, each with an independent Windows experience.

It is a cost-effective way to get more technology into classrooms, computer labs, and libraries and is expected to boost achievement and global competitiveness for schools across Africa.