Ministry of Education launches solar power Internet for schools

The Ministry of Education in partnership with Samsung has launched the Solar Powered Internet Schools (SPIS) in two schools aimed at equipping students with knowledge and skills that will help them to compete in the digital job market.

The two schools are Nsangi Secondary School and Mackay Memorial College Nateete Nsangi received 43 laptops, including full time solar panel, 65 inches of smart screen board, CCTV Cameras all connected to internet, while Mackay  25 laptops fully connected with  full solar panel , 65 inches of smart screen board, CCTV Cameras all connected to internet.

Addressing delegate during the launch, Madinah Nanjego a S.4 pupil at Mackay Memorial College Nateete said, Computer project was a dream when they heard Samsung partnered with the government to install solar power at the school.Nanjego adds says the installation of solar power created a hand -on hand approach in our education.

"We now have a hands on approach which has broadened our literacy, computers are accessible every time, the source of power are reliable and user-friendly'' Nanjego said.

She called upon the Government to spear head this project in others schools so that students can utilise the skills to enable then fit into a digital world.

 The ambassador of South Korea Park Jong-Dae said Korea is responding to the call of President Yoweri Museveni when he visited Korea in 2013 and requested (KERIS) to start implement such programmes Uganda secondary schools in order to equip students with skills needed in the economy creates a gap in the human capital in the regional.

Jong-Dae applauded Uganda for nurturing him, saying am the Ambassador of Korea because Uganda's Education System, I used to study Aga khan in 1970s.

The President of Korean Education Research Information Service (KERIS) Seog Soo Han advised students to utilize this opportunity to acquire the skills noting out that   Korea in 1990s was among the poorest country but since the introduction of ICT program in 1999, the Country has grown.

He said Uganda is one of the six countries where this programme has been introduced to develop human resources through e-Learning, regain public trust in education, lay a foundation for a knowledge and information-based society by activation of e-Learning, and to enhance national education and research competitiveness through academy digitization

The Permanent secretary Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and sports   Rose Nassali Lukwago who represented the state Minister of higher education Hon. J. C Muyingo hailed  (KERIS)  for  providing  a holistic approach aimed at fast-tracking educational development and ensuring that the youth can participate on a global scale by exposing them to today's innovative technology.

The Principal of Mackay College Nateete Francis Kayanja said the school has over 6,000 students and before the installation of   a solar power internet, the ratio of students to computer was 100-1 compared to current which 5-1

Shamira Nabacwa, a S.6 at Nsangi Secondary School said the installation of new computer laboratory at the school has simplified our lessons in terms of  research.

Norah Samalie Lugona S.5 Nsangi Secondary School said, the availability of the solar power throughout the day and night has made studding interesting, in that there is no worry that ant time power can go off compared days when we used to wait for power for a full day.