ICTs in Rural Kenya; conversations with parents

In this part 2 of 3, ICTs in Rural Kenya series we listen to parents hopes and expectations on ICTs in schools.

After the 2012 general election parents in Kenya were excited about the new government’s promise to give every class one student a laptop. In fact, some parents insisted that their children in class 2 or 3 be taken back to class 1 so that they can get a laptop.

Ten years later children who were in class 1 in 2013 have not only finished primary school but are also about to finish secondary school. An interesting turn, the project morphed from giving each class 1 student a laptop to setting up computer labs fitted with tablets to each primary school. The change happened after a flawed tendering process and budgetary reviews after 2013. By 2018, about a million tablets had been distributed in 20,000 primary schools across the country.

However the hope among parents of seeing their children walking home with laptops in their backs still remains high in their expectations.

Before starting ICTs training in Oduwo village, in Western Kenya, we visited homes around the school to meet students and parents at their homes. We began the conversation by asking their thoughts on the Laptop project and then general concerns about ICTs in schools.

This is how the conversations went.

“You cannot survive in this village without technology”

Owino is a parent of a student in Oduwo secondary school. He believes the laptop project was a good idea “It was a good idea because that is where the world is going. Our children will be left behind if they don’t learn about computers.”. However he believes that the project failed because it was a political project. He was of the view that “Someone just wanted to get votes and after that they forgot everything”. He believes the project should be revisited by the next government to enable teachers access more knowledge from computers and the internet so that they can transfer the same knowledge to the students.

We asked whether He feels the local schools needed more classrooms and desks or computers. He responded “you cannot live in today’s world without technology. Even in this village you cannot survive without Mpesa. I know people with no furniture at home but now have Mpesa.” He concluded “we need computers everywhere just the same way we have everyone with Mpesa”

“Computers are distractions to children”

We met Oyugi, a parent of a student at Oduwo primary school. When we knocked at his gate he came up with a book in his hands. It was disappointing to stop him from his afternoon reading but he indulged us. Apart from being an avid reader, Otieno has a deep desire to learn about computers and technology. He told us a few years ago he used to walk for about 5 miles to access computer training in the nearest public library which had computer training. “Computers are everywhere, so you can’t avoid them,” he said.

When we asked if He supports his children’s learning about computers he responded. “I have my phone but my children don’t use it but they use their mothers. Mine is more advanced.” He was referring to smartphones being more advanced because they can access the internet. When we asked why he does not let his children use his mobile phone. He said “when it comes to children and computers we need to be more careful.Our children are not mature enough. They can easily get distracted by technology”

When we posed the question “What can we do to ensure children are benefiting from using computers?”. He suggested that computer labs in schools could also be opened to parents. “Parents need to know how to use computers so that they can help teachers in protecting children from just playing games with computers or even accessing bad things on the internet”.

“Computers are the only way to get out of the village”

We also met Atieno, a parent of two students at Oduwo secondary schools. For her, computers are the only way for her daughters to get out of the village and get good jobs in the cities and this is reflected in her view “I hear in Nairobi city people only work with computers, so if you don’t know computers you cannot get any job”. Thinking about the trajectory of the life of her children she mentioned “Mine are girls and so it is either computers or heavy lifting of manual work. It is better computers.” She regrets the laptop project failed and did not give her children exposure they need to face today’s digital economy.

“Children can wait until after school”

We met Otieno just after he had completed a call. The call was from someone who required his services. Otieno is a builder in the village. He informs us that he gets his jobs through his phone. “Many people know me as a builder and they have my phone number. I receive calls even from people I don’t know to go work for them.” When we asked whether it is okay to let children have access to computers in school, He said “I have never used a computer since I was born. I don’t see why students should not wait until they finish school. And maybe when they have their own phones and computers”

In the next piece, part 3 of 3, we look into lessons we can learn after listening to parents and teachers in Oduwo village.