Special needs teachers from Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi and Machakos counties have undergone training on the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enable them to teach learners literacy in ICT.
The tutors were trained on assistive technologies and accessible digital textbooks.
This was done in a five-day workshop that was held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE). The training was conducted at the same time as that of the University of Rwanda and Uganda colleges of education. The training was sponsored by the United Nations Council of Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s directorate of special needs, Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSci), The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) just to mention but a few.
According to KISE Director Norman Kiogora, it has been difficult to get the required assistive devices for different special needs. Therefore the training will hugely boost teachers knowledge on the kind of devices suitable for each learner’s different abilities.
“Both the government and partners have shown goodwill in their agreement to integrate ICT into special needs learners program. The teachers are excited to get trained to be able to give the knowledge back to the learners,” said the KISE director.
In the view of the monitoring, evaluation, research and learning specialist Samuel Otieno, the purpose of the training was to equip teachers with different assistive technologies and accessible digital textbooks in order to enhance learning and make it easier for learners who are able differently.
With only four counties selected, it has been revealed that this was because the trained teachers are intended to train other trainers in future so as to utilize the knowledge gained to use the assistive devices and technologies in what has been dubbed as a piloting exercise for trainers of trainers (ToT).
Besides, Otieno said revealed that the project is also intended to bring together the East African region in the use of assistive technologies for inclusive learning and benchmarking on the areas where each country has succeeded so as to have a unified understanding and practice.