Teachers To Benefit From Government 42,000 KICD Coding Lessons

By | December 12, 2023

Govt to Train 42,000 Teachers on KICD-Approved Coding Lessons.

President William Ruto said that the government will train 42,000 teachers to provide KICD-approved coding lessons as part of an ambitious plan to promote computer programming lessons across the country.

This effort aims to provide a generation of students with the necessary abilities to thrive in the digital economy by mainstreaming KICD-approved coding instruction in primary and secondary schools.

“Google, in collaboration with the ministries of Education and ICT and Digital Economy, has begun implementing a Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development-approved coding programme in primary and secondary schools,” Ruto, the president of Kenya, said. “To reach 4 million learners, the partnership will train 42,000 teachers.”

Tech giant Google and Kenya’s education system are collaboratively implementing the strategy in stages.

During Jamhuri Day celebrations, President Ruto made this announcement, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and training young Kenyans for the future.

With a growing global demand for competent coders, the program intends to establish Kenya as a leader in digital education, providing a talent pipeline for the international tech market.

This relationship leverages Google’s expertise in computer science education and aligns with Kenya’s ambition for a knowledge-based economy.

Introducing coding to young learners aims to nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, equipping children for a diverse range of occupations beyond the computer sector.

Coding, often known as programming, is the process of providing instructions for a computer to follow. The Python programming language will be taught in Kenyan classrooms.

This coding technique allows computers to do tasks such as calculation, text display, website interaction, and communication with other computers. Google has committed to developing a career pipeline for graduates, as well as options for distant digital gigs and worldwide project contributions.

The concept will be gradually implemented across the country, with an initial target of 7,000 schools. This ambitious program places Kenya in a position to reform its education system, equipping a generation to fully participate in the digital economy.

The program’s emphasis on coding and global employment prospects can improve individual lives while also elevating Kenya to a significant position in the global digital landscape, sometimes known as the Silicon Savannah.

Following a proposal by online publishing startup Kodris Africa, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development became Africa’s first curriculum regulator to formally authorize content for coding.

A coding studio, student and teacher manuals, support materials, an integration matrix, and a Teacher Training Manual are all included in the content.

Since its approval, Kodris Africa has formed alliances with companies such as Safaricom, KCB Group, Cooperative Bank, Kenyatta University, and Mount Kenya University, forming a formidable force to carry out the ambitious plan to revolutionize education in Kenya and Africa by equipping learners with skills required by today’s and tomorrow’s job markets.

Coding and algorithms give children 21st-century abilities by encouraging creative problem-solving and systematic thinking.

Educators highlight that knowing the logic of algorithms helps students appreciate the need for order in completing tasks, transcending computer science to become crucial in transdisciplinary interactions.

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