This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
On May 14, 2020, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) entered into a groundbreaking partnership with StarTimes Kenya to bridge the gap in online learning for Kenyan students.
As the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have been temporarily closed, leaving many students without access to educational resources. However, KICD has been working tirelessly to ensure that learning continues, and this partnership is a significant step in that direction.
Dr. Sara Ruto, the KICD Council Chairperson, welcomed the partnership, acknowledging the enormous task at hand. "The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital learning, and we must embrace it for the sake of our children," she said.
Through this partnership, StarTimes Kenya will provide access to KICD-approved curriculum on their digital television platform, including the mobile application StarTimes ON. This will enable students to continue learning from the comfort of their homes.
StarTimes Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Andy Wang, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We have partnered with KICD to carry approved education content on our platforms. We have ensured that EDU Channel is available through our set-top boxes as a free-to-air channel and uploaded approved primary and secondary school curriculum on our StarTimes ON mobile application platform."
The KICD Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joel Mabonga, welcomed the move, noting that the partnership will grow the number of platforms available to engage students who are learning at home. "We need to go out of our ways to make sure that learning continues even under the current COVID-19 situation," he said.
