KICD Pushes for Technology to Address Teacher Shortage
The chairman of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Prof. Simon Gicharu, has suggested that the shortage of teachers could be alleviated by incorporating distance learning methods.
According to him, this deficit poses a significant challenge due to the increasing student population and the government’s inability to hire an adequate number of teachers.
Gicharu emphasised the necessity of utilising technology as the most effective solution to address this issue. He made these remarks while introducing newly acquired digital teaching screen boards at Mount Kenya University.
The 18 devices, procured from China for Sh28 million, are intended to facilitate virtual lecturer-student interactions and enhance the teaching process.
Gicharu highlighted the versatility of these displays, allowing lecturers to integrate various apps and teaching aids to simplify complex concepts effectively.
He also expressed his belief that traditional brick-and-mortar universities might eventually be replaced by open universities employing virtual platforms with only minimal administrative offices.
Gicharu urged educational institutions to adapt to technological advancements, including the adoption of artificial intelligence concepts, to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
The chairman of Mount Kenya University’s Board of Directors emphasised their commitment to integrating these interactive displays into their teaching platforms across all campuses and Open, Distance, and Electronic Learning (ODEL) centers. He asserted that MKU aims to provide its students with the best possible learning experience through these technological advancements.
MKU’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, echoed Gicharu’s sentiments, emphasising the university’s readiness to embrace the fourth industrial revolution by incorporating technology-mediated teaching methods.
Jaganyi emphasised the importance of digital transformation in gaining a competitive edge in the higher education sector.
He stressed that the interactive screens would facilitate content delivery and enhance student-lecturer interaction, as well as support collaborations and presentations for postgraduate students, thereby fostering a dynamic research environment within the university.
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Dr. Marceline Kamande, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Research Affairs, highlighted that MKU currently has over 12,000 learners utilising online platforms, all of whom stand to benefit from the implementation of digital interactive displays in their learning processes.
KICD Pushes for Technology to Address Teacher Shortage
