Education and cloud technology in Kenya – the key to a competitive edge

By Tonny Tugee

A fundamental building block in ensuring the success of not only a country, but each citizen, is

education. Our journey to becoming a digitally transformed nation has only just begun and it's already revolutionised so many aspects of so many lives. We need to find ways to educate and upskill our rapidly evolving nation to sustain the momentum we have achieved over the last few years and months.

The execution of education has changed

Given recent events, we have seen the mass migration to virtual and online classrooms. Although there have been issues, with greater infrastructure investment this has the potential to bridge the gap when it comes to equal access to education. Location could no longer be an area of concern, as learners can use the cloud to learn wherever they have access to an Internet connection. Instead of needing to arrange and pay for transport to and from school, the only thing necessary to access learning is a stable Internet connection and the required login credentials. This will be a big step towards ensuring all children of school-going age in Kenya can get an education, regardless of where they may live.

This is equally relevant in the business world. As work environments change and technologies evolve, it’s important to equip your workforce with the skills needed to continue adding value in an increasingly digital economy. Cloud-based learning platforms allow us to upskill employees and, as a result, the businesses in which they operate. This can be achieved through digital workshops, training courses, and even remote job shadowing. The Internet provides a wealth of knowledge, and by sharing this with your employees, you equip them with the skills to better themselves and help Kenya become Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) ready.

Of course, this relies on the ability to access the Internet and have an Internet-enabled device to access a classroom or workshop.