The Kenya Institute of Curriculum (KICD) is set to roll out a digital training programme for teachers as part of a strategy to enhance virtual teaching and learning.

The training will be conducted jointly by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Teachers Service Commission and Microsoft. The aim is to equip teachers with skills for developing and delivering quality digital content, which has become the new reality in education during this period when schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The partnership also includes Safaricom that has offered education bundles to teachers and learners.

At the same time, KICD has refurbished its educational broadcasting studio, Edu TV channel, to give it a new-look and feel, make it interactive and enhance delivery of content. Edu TV channel is the only education broadcasting station.

These are some of the reforms that have been lined up to expand and enhance virtual learning that is becoming a new reality as schools remain closed for a prolonged period.

“The training of teachers will be free of charge and will be delivered online to a select group on a pilot basis before it is extended across the country,” says Dr Joel Mabonga, KICD’s senior deputy director, who until last week was the acting director.

Last week, KICD council appointed a new director, Prof Charles Ong’ondo, an academic from Moi University.

The new-look studio has been designed with different backdrops to accommodate the various levels of learning. For lower classes, the background is multidimensional and interactive and designed to capture the imagination and ensure retention of the learners.

“We had planned for all these, but, in view of the hardships brought about Covid-19, we had to fast-track our processes,” said Dr Mabonga.

Other activities lined up include producing interactive digital content, incorporating pertinent and emerging issues in the digital and broadcast programmes as well as developing and adapting digital content for learners with special needs and disabilities.

When schools closed in March, Education ministry directed KICD to expand its remote learning programmes, comprising broadcast and digital content, to serve more than 15 million learners forced to stay at home.

Edu TV channel seeks to sustain a rich menu of educational content that has seen it bag the best award in airing local content during KUZA Awards organised by the Communication Authority of Kenya, adds Dr Mabonga.

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum (KICD) is set to roll out a digital training programme for teachers as part of a strategy to enhance virtual teaching and learning.

The training will be conducted jointly by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Teachers Service Commission and Microsoft. The aim is to equip teachers with skills for developing and delivering quality digital content, which has become the new reality in education during this period when schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The partnership also includes Safaricom that has offered education bundles to teachers and learners.

At the same time, KICD has refurbished its educational broadcasting studio, Edu TV channel, to give it a new-look and feel, make it interactive and enhance delivery of content. Edu TV channel is the only education broadcasting station.

These are some of the reforms that have been lined up to expand and enhance virtual learning that is becoming a new reality as schools remain closed for a prolonged period.

“The training of teachers will be free of charge and will be delivered online to a select group on a pilot basis before it is extended across the country,” says Dr Joel Mabonga, KICD’s senior deputy director, who until last week was the acting director.

Last week, KICD council appointed a new director, Prof Charles Ong’ondo, an academic from Moi University.

The new-look studio has been designed with different backdrops to accommodate the various levels of learning. For lower classes, the background is multidimensional and interactive and designed to capture the imagination and ensure retention of the learners.

“We had planned for all these, but, in view of the hardships brought about Covid-19, we had to fast-track our processes,” said Dr Mabonga.

Other activities lined up include producing interactive digital content, incorporating pertinent and emerging issues in the digital and broadcast programmes as well as developing and adapting digital content for learners with special needs and disabilities.

When schools closed in March, Education ministry directed KICD to expand its remote learning programmes, comprising broadcast and digital content, to serve more than 15 million learners forced to stay at home.

Edu TV channel seeks to sustain a rich menu of educational content that has seen it bag the best award in airing local content during KUZA Awards organised by the Communication Authority of Kenya, adds Dr Mabonga.