The deal will enable the partners to work together to promote use of Kodris Africa Studio by students in Kenya, with plans roll out to the rest of Africa . Betty Korir, Credit Bank Chief Executive Officer said,“We are entering into this partnership to support all stakeholders including the government, schools, parents, and learners and for the social impact it will cause. It is critical that this skill begins to be understood at this elementary level. We are doing this to prepare the young Kenyan citizen for the future workplace.” The move comes after a coding syllabus developed by Kodris Africa, an online publishing firm, was approved for use in Kenyan schools. Coding is simply programming and it involves teaching learners how computers function and it also involves translating human intentions into commands that computers can understand. According to Microsoft Africa Development Center Program Manager Irene Githinji,the initiative is an extension of the commitment Microsoft has with Kenya’s Ministry of Education which spans over two decades. The Ministry of Education has made a great step in the right direction by approving a product that will enhance digital literacy among students in Kenya. We enjoin ourselves in this journey to bring this piece of education to Kenyan schools. Students who learn and understand coding have an advantage of coming full participants – rather than merely spectating – in a heavily computerized and digitized world,” Githinji said. The Microsoft Africa Development Centre which was opened last month will house the engineering, design, research, and innovation teams, as well as the Microsoft Garage, an incubation hub launched as part of the ongoing efforts to scale tech innovation in the continent. She added, “The beauty of understanding how digitization and connectivity works means that our children will have an opportunity to compete for job opportunities beyond boundaries without necessarily having to travel there in the world of remote working.” While commenting on this partnership, Kodris Africa CEO Mugumo Munene said that the partnership would enhance the firm’s purpose of enhancing digital literacy among Kenyan students for socio-economic transformation. “This partnership that we have signed marks an important milestone towards making coding a reality for learners across Kenya and indeed the rest of Africa. Partnerships can only be good news for learners who deserve all the knowledge that they can acquire in their years of study so that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers from around the world. Kodris Africa adds to the skills they are acquiring in school and enhances their ability to competitively navigate the 21st century,” he said.
