Solar-powered technology classrooms in Kenya

The project aims to help students acquire ICT skills while at the same time conserving the environment. A special sports utility vehicle dubbed a ‘computer-lab on wheels' powered by solar panels and equipped with the Intel powered classmate PCs will travel to rural schools to set up a mobile computer lab and provide access to the schools.

Kenya now has access to high-speed connectivity with the landing of fibre-optic cable. Intel is also helping the government roll out the National ICT buses project where there will be roaming computer labs in each constituency as spelt out by Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta in this year's budget.

“Intel wants to harness the combined potential of high speed connectivity, technology and education to speed up the gains for the poor in rural communities. This project introduces these young people to 21st century skills which will ultimately give them an edge in the knowledge economy," said Jacques van Schalkwyk, Intel general manager - South and sub-Saharan Africa.

Intel has developed e-learning software to teach students new skills, including; basic keyboard use, mouse functions, Microsoft Office operations and using the Internet.

Mustek East Africa provided technological solutions which included mounting solar panels, provided by Kenital Ltd., on the car, connection to inverters and batteries, mounting classmate PCs in a custom built cabinet and wireless connectivity. They also plan to provide on-site technical training on the use of classmate PC model in an eLearning environment.

“We hope that the students will get enough knowledge to explore further on their own especially if they choose to take up further computer related studies or computer service jobs,” says Alphonce Okuku, country director at Kageno.

The Mobile Technology classroom model, in Kenya, aims to provide low cost, easy to use, fully functional personal computers and internet access for first time users and has been rolled out in Uganda as well.