By Wasike Elvis
Stakeholders in Kenya’s education sector have called on the government to implement strategies that will equip students with the necessary technological skills to foster creativity and employment opportunities among the youth.
Speaking at Dyron Howel School in Eldoret, key figures from the education and technology sectors highlighted the importance of integrating technology into the education system from an early age. They emphasized that empowering young people with knowledge in coding, robotics, and other technology-driven fields is a critical step toward addressing Kenya’s growing unemployment challenge.
John’s Letter, CEO of DigiSkool Smart Solutions, underscored the urgency of incorporating 21st-century skills into the curriculum. “We are focused on software development, school management solutions, and training students in coding and robotics,” Letter said. “Kenya has a job employment problem, and while the government has made strides in transforming the tertiary education sector, many young people with degrees still struggle to find employment. We need to move beyond just being consumers of technology; we need to become creators.”
Letter explained that, while many Kenyans are consumers of technology—using phones, laptops, and cameras—they lack the skills to build or repair such devices. “We need to shift from being technicians who fix things to innovators who create them,” he said. “Programming, coding, AI, and robotics are not only in demand in Kenya but globally. A person skilled in these areas can work from home, earning international wages, which could reduce the need for parents to send their children abroad for employment opportunities.”
He also pointed out that the skills required in these fields do not necessarily demand a master's degree. “What is important is curiosity and a willingness to learn. In the USA, many engineers do not have degrees, but they are highly skilled and successful,” he noted. “Our aim is to create individuals who will generate jobs, not just seek them.”
Letter’s sentiments were echoed by Paul Kamau, a technology teacher at DigiSkool, who is helping students develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Kamau explained that DigiSkool teaches children to create their own games and animations while introducing them to robotics and other cutting-edge technologies. “Compared to their European counterparts, our students are a bit behind in terms of technological advancement, but we are working hard to improve their skills,” he said. “They enjoy playing games and using toys, so we teach them how to create their own games and even build robots.”
Mark Suvai, the Head Teacher of Dyron Howel School, praised the technology integration provided by DigiSkool, which has helped students better understand computers and align their learning with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) introduced by the Ministry of Education. “Our students are grasping technology very quickly, which is essential for their academic and professional future,” Suvai said. “We strongly recommend that all schools embrace technology to ensure that students are well-equipped for the future.”
The stakeholders urged both public and private schools to prioritize the integration of technology in their curricula. While many private schools have already embraced this shift, they called for a concerted effort to bring public schools on board. The consensus was clear: ensuring all students have access to technology and the skills to use it is essential to reducing unemployment and creating job opportunities for the youth.
The discussion highlighted the urgent need for educational reforms that foster innovation, creativity, and technological literacy, with the hope that these initiatives will lead to a brighter future for Kenya’s youth.