EAST AFRICA- It is reported that Burhani Engineers Limited has partnered with the Kibera Sub-County government to provide computer systems and Engineering Power Classes to pupils within the county. According to the report, the distribution is aimed at increasing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and preparing the grassroots demographic for more technology-based career opportunities.
Apparently, the Burhani support is coming on a backdrop of a recent study by the US department of education that projects an increase in STEM jobs. The study, according to report, shows that students perusing mathematics increase their chances of obtaining a job by 16 per cent, computer system analysis by 22 per cent, system software development by 32 per cent, medical scientists by 36 per cent and biomedical engineering by a whopping 62 per cent.
No doubt, this development is a good news for the country’s digital learning program that is set to instill computer studies into pupils from class one. It would be recalled that, mid this year, the government embarked on its free lap top project by distributing over 12,000 learning devices to 150 public primary schools as the pilot for Digital Literacy Program.
In a way of transforming to match up the pace of technology, East Africa is industrializing at a very rapid pace as the population needs to align with emerging opportunities. This is why the government intends to distribute 1.2 million devices to public primary schools across the country by next year in a program that has since been re-branded Digi School.
The partnership, as reported, signed between Burhani Engineers Limited represented by the Managing Director Mr. Zoher Pirbhai, Kibera sub-county Directorate of Education, represented by Mrs. Lydia Mutegi and the Kibra MP’s Office represented by Ann Ithara, will see at least 10 schools receive 10 computers in the first round.
According to reports, this initiative is facilitated by Funke Michaels-Miano, an MIT and Harvard University Fellow, with the hope to benefit Kibra schools including Kibera Primary, Toi Primary, Mbagathi Primary, Olympic Primary, Redrose school, Kibera Secondary, Mbagathi secondary, Olympic secondary and the sub-county education directorate.
Managing Director Zoher Pirbhai confirmed that there is a serious need to put workforce around skills in technical areas.
“East Africa is industrializing at a very rapid pace; and our population needs to align with emerging opportunities. We need our workforce to have the necessary skills to be competitive in these highly technical areas. We see a situation whereby we can reach to the young talents, nature their talent and improve their Knowledge in ICT.”
Zoher Pirbhai further explained that Engineering Power Classes will be taught once a week in the schools by Burhani team members. Being a second generation engineer himself, Zoher explored the role of corporate citizens in imparting hands-on knowledge within the community.
Also commenting on the development, Mrs. Lydia Mutegi, a veteran teacher herself, thanked the firm for the initiative and assured them that the computers will be put into good use.
“This initiative has come up at the right time”, Mrs. Lydia Mutegi said. “The area MP is currently constructing additional secondary schools here, and I know that the computers and power classes will be of great assistance. I urge other organisations to follow this example and help us improve the level of education in this country.”
Correspondent: Ridwan A. Olayiwola
