Just after concluding a six-week long online training for over 100 teachers in Western Kenya, leading communications solutions provider, Liquid Telecom in partnership with Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), has successfully connected 152 schools to website domains as part of a broader effort to enhance schools abilities to deliver online learning and services across the country.
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The programme, launched in May 2020, features schools from across 19 counties including Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Homabay, Kakamega, Narok, Busia, Kisii, Nandi, Kiambu, West Pokot, Nyamira, Siaya, Uasin Gishu, Turkana, Vihiga, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Kilifi with the target to register 2000 sc.ke domains.
Mr Joel Karubiu, the KeNIC CEO said;
“The Pandemic has heightened the need for digital adoption to improve our current education systems. The need for schools to be connected and have an online presence to be able to conduct classes has never been more important than right now. Through this programme in partnership with Liquid Telcom, we aim to reach at least 2000 schools and register them on a unique identifier.sc.ke. A domain name extension for schools that will give access, enable and empower educators with the relevant digital skills to teach effectively”.
As the Registry mandated with the management of Kenya’s County Code Top Level Domain (CCTLD), KeNIC’s role is to ensure that Kenya has a unique identifier online, offer reliable and sustainable infrastructure. The organisation is also responsible for granting every individual, organisation and learning institution a gateway to the internet by having a Kenyan domain name. The domain identity designated for schools in Kenya, delivers website domain names that end in .sc.ke.
Speaking about the programme, Ben Roberts, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Liquid Telecom said;
“Creating domains for the institution within Kenya’s school systems is directly addressing the changing digital landscape of this country. Not only does it set the scene for the new global digital economy, it allows for greater security and integration as instructors can use school domain emails instead of personal emails. Furthermore, the use online collaboration tools to effectively instruct learners digitally is necessary. It enables schools with websites that serve as an essential channel to provide information and connect with the community.”
The programme provides the selected schools with a platform to onboard domains on Liquid Telecom’s robust anycast Domain Name System (DNS) platform for free, and it administers the domains to get them working, along with free hosting for basic school websites and training about internet identities and domain security.
The teachers now have access to official designated school domains instead of personal emails enabling a more secure digital environment. School domains act as a trusted address book to verify the identity of school websites, teachers’ emails, e-learning platforms, and can even offer school learners with a trusted online identity. Through this programme, Liquid Telecom has empowered these schools to have credible online identities and taking one more step forward in building Africa’s digital future.
