Teachers to get laptop financing under new public-private partnership

Safaricom, Equity, Microsoft, KIE, Intel and TSC partner to bridge digital divide

Teachers can now acquire laptops complete with broadband internet connection from Safaricom at affordable rates. This follows the signing of a partnership between Safaricom, Equity Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Kenya Institute of Education and teachers’ main employer body, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The partnership will see Equity Bank provide credit facilities to teachers, while Safaricom will make the acquisition of the devices, connectivity bundled with internet usage, possible through its 32-strong Safaricom Retail Centre network across Kenya. Kenya institute Of Education will provide data integration while Microsoft comes on board with solutions for the programme.

Intel’s Country Manager Mr. Omar Bajaber present said Intel will as well provide an application for self training material while the TSC will create awareness about the loan among its members and help administer the facility through a check-off system.

According to Microsoft Education & CSR Manager Mr. Mark Mutunga, Microsoft will provide certified software and antivirus for the laptops, which also come loaded with the KIE syllabuses for both primary and secondary education. Mr. Mutunga added that this is a point break for Microsoft in Kenya, their footprint country office for sub saharan Africa with developing of national digital content and E-Book for Kenya first of its kind in the sub saharan region.

“Working with the Safaricom was easier for the success attainment of the programme due to its flexibility. It is the aggressiveness for the interest of the community by two stakeholders, Equity bank and Safaricom that drove us to adapt the vision to develop the software for the stakeholders”, Said Mr. Mutunga.

Teachers wishing to benefit from the deal will select their laptop solution of choice from Safaricom Retail Centers based on their needs and apply for financing from any Equity Bank branch. Once financing is confirmed, the customers will be notified to collect their laptops from the Safaricom Retail Centre Said Mr. Simon Kavisi, Senior deputy Secretary- TSC.

Mr. Kavisi paid tribute to the partners for learning enhancement in schools through technology and urged the same platform will be useful by TSC for relaying information to teachers through the internet. He further said the role of teachers has now changed and need to be proactive facilitators of ICT in education.

Mr. John Kimotho Deputy Director Kenya Institute of Education, reckoned that integration of technology in learning will realize quality education, improve access to E- learning and have reference to first world education via internet. He noted that KIE has partnered with other stakeholders to develop content for primary syllabus for classes one to seven for both teachers and pupils by now. Mr. Kimotho who was representing KIE director Mrs. Lydia Nzibo said the institute will provide orientation for teachers on ICT basics and E-learning so that it’s full potential and the social pillars are realized

Under the deal, Equity Bank will provide loan amounts from Ksh 20,000 to Ksh 75, 000 to qualifying teachers to purchase the laptops under the check-off system.

Safaricom will be responsible for the quality of laptops and broadband internet connections provided as well as their distribution. All laptops and broadband modems will be collected from Safaricom Retail Centres.

Equity on the other hand will be responsible for the provision of affordable personal loans to teachers to enable them acquire the laptop solution.

Safaricom is leveraging on the deal as it seeks to entrench its data services and help bridge the digital divide in Kenya. The deal comes at time the country’s ICT sector is poised for exponential growth following the landing and activation of TEAMS and Seacom undersea cables.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at Safaricom Center, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Michael Joseph said the initiative would allow teaching professionals in the middle and low income segments of the economy to embrace technology at an affordable price.

“The cost of internet-enabled devices remains a major barrier to increasing data penetration in Kenya. At Safaricom, we are actively seeking ways to make these devices affordable to as many Kenyans as possible. This partnership presents a major breakthrough in this pursuit and will improve utility of the internet and the expansive data infrastructure Safaricom has put together. We are putting internet technology in the hands of those who need it most; the teachers. This will give a boost to e-learning and improve overall performance in Kenyan schools,” said Mr Joseph.

With massive broadband capacity available from Safaricom, the firm has all the solutions to address customer needs whether business oriented personal or residential, he noted and invited teachers to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the offer.

Equity Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Dr James Mwangi said the Bank, with branches all over the country, would avail affordable and flexible credit terms to the over 250, 000 teachers under the TSC to access the laptops and hence bridge the digital divide especially in the rural areas.

Dr Mwangi said teachers in the country played a crucial role in imparting knowledge which was a key cornerstone in Kenya’s economic blueprint Vision 2030.

“The teaching community is a key plank in driving a knowledge-based economy to improve national prosperity and Kenya’s global competitiveness. This deal will further empower the teachers in carrying out this crucial role,” Dr Mwangi said.

He noted that Equity bank had invested heavily in the education sector over the years, saying that the bank had so far spent over Ksh 144 million in running the Equity Pre-University Sponsorship Programme started in 1998. Over 800 students have so far benefited from the program. Recently, the Bank through Equity Group Foundation partnered with MasterCard Foundation to start a secondary school fund for academically gifted orphans and other vulnerable children.

Each laptop purchased through this offer will be entitled to a free broadband modem loaded with monthly data usage for a minimum of 12 months or a stretched period based on the loan repayment period selected, in addition to the Kenya Institute of Education syllabus loaded on the laptop, free anti-virus and genuine Microsoft Windows applications will also be part of the soft wares loaded onto the laptops.

The ICT sector is a major contributor to Kenya’s GDP, and has the potential to employ thousands of Kenyans hence contributing significantly to poverty reduction. Public-private partnerships of the type signed by Safaricom, Equity Bank, Microsoft, KIE, Intel and TSC are a key plank in achieving this aim.