Thanks to a partnership between the Butula constituency and Taiwan Tech, through the facilitation of area MP Joseph Oyula, three schools in Butula Sub-county are currently the beneficiaries of a digital literacy program. This is after 35 computers and learning modules were donated to Butula Boys, Bukhalalire Boys, and Bukhuyi Mixed, which have been selected as model IT schools. These schools are being outfitted to act as a resource center for all other schools within Busia County, especially in the teaching of computer technology.
MP Joseph Mayero Oyula emphasized that there was a digital skills gap that needed bridging. He underscored that this is a programme aimed at equipping Butula’s youth with the skills required for thriving in the digital age. He pointed out the role of the programme in adjusting education to global needs locally, which will make graduates competitive in education and the job market.
The leader of the Taiwan Tech volunteers, Vincent Wang, noted the need for digital education in Kenyan schools. Indeed, many employers in the country are hungry for employees with skills in computer operations, said Wang. Cultural exchange in terms of the Taiwanese language, food, and exposure to Taiwanese lifestyles also enrich the experience for students.
The step has been termed as monumental towards enhancing children’s right to education, and generally their well-being, through digital technologies by school leaders, including the principal of Bukhalalire Boys, Didimo Mukati. All participating schools back it, with the teachers supporting the program, citing it as a much-needed solution to the prevalent shortage of teachers in Kenya.