KENYA: Country's first solar-powered computer lab connects children in a rural school in Naivasha to a world of communication and education tools

Record ID: 362152

  • Title: KENYA: Country's first solar-powered computer lab connects children in a rural school in Naivasha to a world of communication and education tools
  • Date: 1st November 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEOFFREY THUO, TEACHER AT RUBIRI PRIMARY SCHOOL SAYING: "They are able now to link with the outside world, they are able now to link with their colleagues in outside schools and may be able to, you know, explore more about the world" EXTERIOR OF COMPUTER LABORATORY WITH SOLAR PANELS ON ROOF VARIOUS OF SOLAR PANEL SCHOOL CHILDREN PLAYING VARIOUS OF
  • Embargoed: 16th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Science,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5BAWMGV1XG1TO78R0G2BS0WC
  • Story Text: A new concept bringing a solar-powered IT department to schools in Africa was recently rolled out at a primary school in Kenya's Rift Valley - much to the delight of the school's pupils.
    Students at Rubiri Primary School, a government-run school supported by the local community near Kenya's Lake Naivasha, recently got to try out the new system, called 'Solar Classroom in a Box'.
    The concept, brainchild of the founders of UK company Aleutia, provides school children in developing countries with access to computer-based learning, even if their school is in an area with little or no access to electricity.
    Extremely efficient components allow ten computer stations to run for up to eight hours a day, while the design, which includes no moving parts, uses Open Source software and can be maintained remotely, is resilient even in hot and dusty conditions.
    Rachel Wanjiru, a Rubiri student who got to try out the system on the first day of operations, said she thought the system would provide access to a whole new world of knowledge.
    "It can help us with sometimes, like, asking some difficult questions because if you want to know more about a certain thing you can consult the computers," she explained.
    Fellow student Allan Mwangi, was particularly taken by the solar component of the system.
    "The schools which don't have the electricity, they can be having enough energy to work," he said.
    Teacher Geoffrey Thuo said access to the internet would likely have a huge impact on the students.
    "They are able now to link with the outside world, they are able now to link with their colleagues in outside schools and may be able to, you know, explore more about the world," he said.
    While the system, which arrives in its own "plug and play" boxes, has been developed to be applicable across most developing countries, Stonehouse, the company importing the computers to Kenya, is also looking at producing the systems locally. Company founders believe there is a massive unmet demand for education in computer and internet skills, in unserviced rural areas.
    The system, paid for through fundraising by students at a private school in Nairobi, costs 16,000 US dollars and is the first of its kind in Kenya. According to Aleutia co-founder Sharif Fanselow, the relatively maintenance-free hardware and low cost of components mean the system can be used almost anywhere.
    "The upfront costs are much lower and you can now get computers - you can get an entire computer lab - anywhere where there is sunshine," said Sharif Fanselow.
    While the idea is to roll out the solar systems with donor funding, the investors are hoping government will take an interest. Meantime, headmaster Peter Kimani says his students will have a huge advantage over students from schools that currently do not get to use computers.
    "Okay, the government has not yet introduced computer education in primary schools but our children will be able to access the internet, they will be able to learn from the computers and now it will enhance their education," he explained.
    The solar system does have one drawback - it needs sunshine. But will plenty of that available in the Rift Valley, the system installed at Rubiri primary should be humming along throughout the year.
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