Samsung pushes e-Learning in Kenyan primary schools

COMPUTING

By Semaj Itosno, Nairobi, Kenya 

Samsung Electronics now targeting primary school children with its e-learning programs as it aims to popularise the use of technology in education.

The firm has launched a pilot training program for primary school children, whereby pupils aged between 4 – 7 years old will be imparted with knowledge and skills on how to use digital technology within the classroom setting. 

The training program, dubbed Samsung Smart School, is aimed at transforming the traditional classroom learning systems to a digital system, which will drive technological know-how among pupils and teachers as well as modernize the classroom management systems.  

Speaking during the pilot training program session attended by pupils from Nairobi’s Lavington Primary school, Samsung Electronics General Manager, Robert Ngeru said that adopting a digital classroom management system will enhance the quality of education as the solution provides an interactive learning environment between the pupils and the teachers.

“The Samsung Smart School provides a state of the art platform for teachers to easily undertake their regular duties  for example administering quizzes, monitoring attendance and the provide the pupils with the modern platforms of classroom interactions, which puts both the school and the pupils a step ahead in the adoption of modern technology trends.” explained Ngeru.

 Mr. Ngeru said the Samsung Smart School Solution which targets young minds is bound to have a positive and far-reaching impact as the pupils adopt digital learning at an early age. 

The training program focuses on demonstrating how modern technology such as computers, tablets, mobile phones make lives easier and how users can have fun learning subjects such as mathematics and science through computer applications.

“Through the Smart School program, we are going beyond making our children more tech-savvy, but also equipping them with skills that will well position them for success in the global arena; the world is  fast becoming globalized and this means we  have to quickly adopt to  the global trends such as digitalization, even from a tender  age,s” said Ngeru.

 The Samsung Smart School solution supports other e-learning initiatives previously implemented in Kenya, such as the company’s partnership with eLimu foundation. Under the partnership, basic educational applications were loaded onto the Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0  Plus, which incorporates content co-relating to the national curriculum and also features animations, videos, songs, music, games and quizzes to make the learning process more interactive, interesting, fun and engaging for students, as well as enable them to grasp complex concepts.

The Smart School solution is expected to roll-out nationwide next year.