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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA SOLAR TABLET EDUCATION (TVPKG, RADIO)
HEADLINE: Kenyan Startup Distributes Learning Software on Solar-Powered Tablets in Rural Areas
TEASER: Education in rural Kenya affected by shortages of schools, teachers and even electricity
PUBLISHED AT: 3/xx/23
BYLINE: Ahmed Hussein
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Wajir, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ahmed Hussein
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE(S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[Education and literacy are a challenge in rural Africa, where teachers and electricity are often lacking, and many students speak languages different from their country’s primary tongue. A startup in Kenya is tackling the problem by providing learning software in multiple languages on thousands of solar-powered tablet computers. Ahmed Hussein reports from Wajir County, Kenya.]]
((NARRATOR))
Young learners learn lessons on computer tablets at Leheley Primary School in Kenya's Wajir County.
They are using an app called M-Lugha, which translates lessons in English and Swahili — the two main languages of instruction in Kenya — into other native languages.
The app developers put the software on solar-powered tablets for learners who have no ready access to electricity.
[[RADIO TRACK… Abdinoor Alimahdi is the app developer.]]
((Abdinoor Alimahdi, M-Lugha App Developer (English, 10 seconds))
“Because of connectivity issues, we made the app offline, which means you don’t need internet to access it, and then we also have portable solar panels to charge the tablets.”
((NARRATOR))
Over 70% of learners in northern Kenya reside in places without electricity, which initially posed a huge problem for M-Lugha users, but now they can easily access its content.
Teachers say the app has greatly enhanced learning.
[[RADIO TRACK… Eric Ochieng is deputy principal at Leheley primary school.]]
((Eric Ochieng, Leheley Primary School Deputy Principal (English, 15 seconds))
“The initiative will help the kids. So far, they are mastering. It will also improve the enrollment of our kids here. It will sharpen the kids’ minds and ease the work of the teachers.”
((NARRATOR))
Due to poor infrastructure and lack of teachers in schools, children in northeast Kenya must learn in these conditions.
Alimahdi told VOA that his company plans to reach more pupils in remote areas so they can learn in their first languages.
((Abdinoor AliMahdi, M-Lugha App Developer (English, 25 seconds))
“We have piloted in the Somali language. In the next few months, we will also go to the other parts of the country where we have the Maasai community and also pilot there. Then we move to Isiolo, Marsabit and Mandera, where we have Borana communities and we will roll out. By the end of this year, we will give out more than 3,000 tablets.”
((NARRATOR))
Local communities or nongovernmental organizations usually pay for the tablets.
According to UNICEF, one of the fundamental challenges of learning in sub-Saharan Africa is that the language of instruction often differs from the children’s mother tongue.
[[RADIO TRACK… Ahmed Madey is an education researcher.]]
((Ahmed Madey, Education Researcher, (English, 21 seconds))
“With the new curriculum now, there is focus on Indigenous languages and the fact that M-Lugha is bringing on board the access to translation services, because when you teach a child at that formative age in their mother tongue, even their understanding, their access, their capacity significantly improves.”
((NARRATOR))
Early Childhood Development Education, or ECD, in Kenya is not centralized, and experts say counties need to put more funds into schools and pre-primary school education.
[[RADIO TRACK…. Ahmed Wardere is the County Executive Committee Member
for Education in Wajir County. ]]
((Ahmed Wardere, Wajir County Education Official (English, 22 seconds)
“There are so many apps in use at the moment. In the near future, we intend to put the digital system in place, as young as they are in ECD centers, our plans is that they become digitally upgraded even as they go to grade 1 and 2.”
((NARRATOR))
Despite the myriad of challenges facing students in rural parts of Kenya, innovations like the M-Lugha app give a glimmer of hope that they can access quality education like their peers in other parts of the country.
((Ahmed Hussein, for VOA News, Wajir, Kenya.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Wajir, Kenya
BylineAhmed Hussein
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
