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Kilifi, August 30, 2006

President Mwai Kibaki and First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki are conducted on a tour of the e-learning classroom, a project by NEPAD after he officially inaugurated it at Kikambala Primary school, Kilifi district.

Do not politicize educational issues, President Kibaki urges leaders

President Mwai Kibaki today launched the first Nepad primary e-school program with a call to leaders to avoid politicizing educational issues.

The president noted that the current world economy requires people with ICT knowledge and therefore the need for Kenyans to ensure that their children acquire computer skills, which will enable them be at per with their peers in other parts of the world.

“ This is not a Kenyan issue only, all over the world people are now embracing ICT, we therefore cannot afford to isolate ourselves but rather be pro-active in this modern technology,” said the President.

The Head of State who was accompanied by the First Lady Lucy Kibaki was speaking during the launch of the Nepad Primary e-school program in Kikambala primary in Kilifi district noted that the provision of quality education was key to development and therefore urged leaders and wananchi to join hands in expanding educational facilities for their children and shun trivialities.

Said President Kibaki: “ There is no need for any leader to politicize education matters. There is no country which can progress without literate people and I therefore challenge you to concentrate in matters beneficial to our Children future.”

Noting that the launching of ICT program in primary schools marks a new era in the primary education curriculum, the President called on all stakeholders both in public and private sectors as well as civil society to increase their contribution and also participate in availing computer facilities to schools in order to ensure the success of the programme.

“ As a Government most of our resources are being channeled to the free primary education programme, therefore we require support from well-wishers because the ICT programme will benefit the whole nation,” President Kibaki said.

In this connection the President urged Kenyans to embrace Information Communication Technology saying as a country, Kenya cannot afford to ignore knowledge economy, which is empowering other nations and hastening the process of global village.

He also challenged the youth to strive and excel in ICT as their future will increasingly depend on how well they are trained and equipped in the field.

The Head of State further called on the Coastal residents to endeavor in development activities, saying there is need for them to improve the existing educational facilities so as to create a conducive learning environment for their children.

President Kibaki assured Kenyans that the Government will continue to provide necessary resources needed to disseminate valuable information for the progression of education in the country.

The President thanked all well wishers who participated in the initiative saying there efforts will always be imprinted in the minds of the young children who will enormously benefit from the programme.

Other speakers at the function were Nepad’s chief executive Dr. Grace Otieno Ongile and Microsoft country representative Mark Matunga who lauded the Government for its efforts in promoting the usage of Information Communication Technology in its development activities and also in providing services to wananchi.

Present were Ministers Noah Wekesa, John Michuki, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Morris Dzoro, Kivutha Kibwana, Suleiman Shakombo, Moses Akaranga, several assistant ministers, Members of Parliament icluding the area MP Joe Khamisi, Mombasa acting Mayor Sharrif Ali Shekue, Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi among other senior government officials.