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A publisher in Kenya is using artificial intelligence to help make education more accessible and affordable. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA EDUCATION AI (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Kenyan Publishers Use AI to Improve Access to Books
TEASER: The high cost of education is keeping some Kenyans home
PUBLISHED: 09/28/2023 at
BYLINE: Victoria Amunga
CONTRIBUTOR: None
DATELINE: Nairobi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo
VIDEO EDITOR: Jimmy Makhulo
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Purnell Murdock
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Sharon Shahid
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA,
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY: Jason Godman
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
INTRO: [[A publisher in Kenya is using artificial intelligence to help make education more accessible and affordable. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi.]]
((VIDEO-VOA SCHOOL BOOKS IN A LIBRARY various))
((NARRATOR))
The cost of books and materials is too high for many poor Kenyans who want to get an education. Books for the school year can cost more than $100 — more than many can afford to pay.
VIDEO-VOA LoHo LEARNING various.
To help, Longhorn Publishers in Kenya created an online platform called LoHo Learning. It is enabled by artificial intelligence and helps users access all textbooks and videos for $15.
Founder James Ong'ang'a says the goal is to provide a quality education.
((James Ong'ang'a, LoHo Learning CEO (English 24secs.)) 4'02''-4'26''
''So, the first product that we came up with was e-books, because books make one of the core elements of learning within the education curriculum. Secondly is comprehension. Books alone don't help learners to meet the education objective. You also need technology to help ensure that there is understanding within the classroom.”
((VIDEO-VOA LoHo CONTENT CREATORS WORKING various))
The LoHo learning platform is available both online and offline to help those who have no or limited access to the internet.
Doreen Lusega is LoHo’s content creator.
((Doreen Lusega, LoHo Learning ((English 26 secs)) 3'36''-4'02''
''Let me take a subject like integrated science, where they learn about finding the PH of various things at home. So, in our virtual lab, we have simulations that enable them to do that. So, they can drain the solutions and measure the PH. And so, that is making it more live than what they just read in a book.''
((VIDEO-VOA STUDENTS IN CLASS various SUSAN))
Officials say more than 25,000 students, like Susan Namtosia, are using the platform, including camp refugees and people living remote areas.
((Susan Namtosia, Student ((English 17 secs)) 3'24''-3'41''
''Reading online is easy to understand simply because the notes are specifically arranged, and you can get them easily. But with reading the textbook, you can waste a lot of time by searching for the notes.''
((VIDEO-VOA SCHOOL various JAMES various))
((NARRATOR))
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of education exclusion. Over one-fifth of children between the ages of 6 and 11 are out of school.
The Kenyan government says it will be implementing reforms to help increase attendance in primary schools. Innovators, like Ong'ang'a, say artificial intelligence can change traditional learning and reduce the equity gap in education.
((Victoria Amunga, VOA News, Nairobi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 28, 2023 19:12 EDT
Byline
Victoria Amunga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
