This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
Parents as Teachers, Bookshops Playing Catch Up: Evaluating E-Learning ¶
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, the education sector in Kenya is facing unprecedented challenges. With schools closed and parents forced to take on the role of teachers, the demand for e-learning resources has never been higher.
According to a recent article, the publishing industry in Kenya is heavily reliant on educational books, with the government subsidizing the production of these books to the tune of Ksh15 billion. However, with the partial lockdown in place, bookshops have been forced to adapt to the new reality and find ways to stay afloat.
One way that bookshops are coping is by integrating their physical stores with online platforms, allowing customers to purchase e-books and have them delivered to their homes. This shift to e-learning is not only a response to the pandemic, but also a recognition of the growing demand for digital resources in education.
As the article notes, many e-books are very cheap, with some publishers offering them for as little as Ksh20. This has made e-learning an attractive option for parents who are struggling to keep their children entertained and educated at home.
However, not everyone is convinced that e-learning is the way forward. Some readers are still attached to physical books and may be resistant to the idea of switching to digital formats. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to e-learning in Kenya, and it is likely that this trend will continue even after the pandemic has passed.
As the article concludes, the rise of electronic publishing and the ease with which learners can access the internet will dramatically alter our education system and place e-learning as the central cogwheel of our fledgling education system.
With the government's support, the publishing industry in Kenya is well-positioned to take advantage of this shift and provide high-quality e-learning resources to parents and children across the country.
