Kenyan Government Endorsement ICDL
Government announced that the ICDL is to be recognised as the entry level computer certificationThe ICDL programme in Africa recently received another landmark endorsement when the Kenyan designed to demonstrate competence in computer use – the only certification to be recognised as such. Minister Samuel Poghisio amended the Information and Communications Act to recognize the ICDL, which is not linked to any particular software manufacturer, in an effort to provide an international, independent benchmark computer skills certification in Kenya.
Mr Etinick Mutinda, ICDL Africa Development Representative for Kenya said “We are delighted and honoured to receive this important endorsement from the Kenyan Government as we have a long track record of achievement here in Kenya. We share the vision of Minister Poghisio that the adoption of the ICDL standard will result in practical and quantifiable gains towards the goal of „education for all‟ on a large scale, benefiting individuals and the country as a whole.”
Once the new policy guidelines take effect, all civil servants in Kenya will be expected to be ICDL Certified while UNDP, Xerox International and Toyota East Africa are among companies that currently require their employees to be ICDL compliant. Regional Development Manager for ECDL Foundation, Daniel Palmer said, „This is very significant endorsement for ICDL in Africa – by auditing and accrediting local institutions to international standards we will assist the Kenyan government in the implementation of the ICDL standard and the provision of a focal point for the formation of partnerships with other organisations who share the same national economic development and capacity building goals”.
The project also enjoys the logistical and administrative support of the ICDL South Africa office in Cape Town, providing high quality backup to the ICDL Africa team on the ground in Kenya. Although a compliance deadline is yet to be issued, all computer colleges in Kenya will now prepare to offer courses leading to this certification, placing Kenya at the forefront of the 31 African countries which have already adopted or endorsed ICDL.
The following is the official notice from the department of information and Communications:
GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 12070
THE KENYA INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ACT
(No. 2of 1998)
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
SECTOR POLICY GUIDELINES
THE KENYA INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ACT
(No. 2of 1998)
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
SECTOR POLICY GUIDELINES
AMENDEMENT
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 5A of the Kenya Information and Communications act, 1998, the Minister for Information and Communications amends the policy guidelines issued vide Gazette Notice no. 2431 of 2006 by inserting the following new subparagraph at the end of paragraph 3.3.9- (g) Recognizing the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) Certification as the entry level computer certification designed to demonstrate competence in computer use.
Dated the 2nd November, 2009.
SAMUEL POGHISIO,
Minister for Information and Communications.
SAMUEL POGHISIO,
Minister for Information and Communications.
To find out more about the ICDL programme in Kenya, including how to become accredited as an
ICDL centre, please contact ICDL Africa’s development representative in Nairobi, Mr Etinick Mutinda
