Credit Bank, Microsoft Ink deal with Kodris Africa to deepen digital literacy and training of students in coding in Africa.
Move follows Kodris coding syllabus approval by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.

Nairobi, April 27, 2022…. Credit Bank, Microsoft Africa and Kodris Africa have announced a partnership to deepen digital learning following the formal approval of a coding syllabus for primary and secondary schools in Kenya.
The partnership will see the three firms working together to promote use of Kodris Africa Studio by students in Kenya and then rolled out into the rest of Africa. The partnership will also seek to democratize technology in the continent to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG4 to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

The announcement follows approval of the syllabus by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) issued by CEO Prof Charles Ong’ondo on April 19, making Kenya the first country in Africa to reach this important education milestone. It also comes after ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru unveiled the Kenya National Digital Master plan 2022-2032 which is a blueprint for leveraging and deepening the contribution of the ICT sector to accelerate socio- economic growth. Coding as a subject of study also dovetails with the government efforts to promote digital literacy in Kenya under the Digital Literacy Programme launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016.

Coding teaches learners how computers function and is the act of translating human intentions into commands that computers can understand and is used to create modern use digital solutions such as mobile money transfer and smart devices. Kodris Africa intends to equip learners with skills to solve problems and become producers in preparation for opportunities and jobs of the future. Credit Bank becomes the first bank in Africa to support the deployment of the novel syllabus which is expected to deepen digital literacy and enhance employability among learners who study it.

Credit Bank Chief Executive Officer Betty Korir said the bank would support schools who will deploy the Kodris Africa platform as part of the bank’s commitment to deepening its social impact in the education sector.

“We are entering into this partnership to support all stakeholders including the government, schools, parents, and learners and for the social impact it will cause. It is critical that this skill begins to be understood at this elementary level. We are doing this to prepare the young Kenyan citizen for the future workplace,” said Mrs. Korir.

The traditional workplace has undergone tremendous change in the last few years, where numerous opportunities are now in the digital space. Microsoft opened a premier engineering hub, the African Development Centre (ADC last month, demonstrating the company’s commitment to the continent.

The facility will house the engineering, design, research, and innovation teams, as well as the Microsoft Garage, an incubation hub launched as part of the ongoing efforts to scale tech innovation in the continent.
Microsoft Africa Development Center Program Manager (Student and Education Engagements) Irene Githinji said the promotion of coding which is a signature subject in the study of computer science and the digital world, is an extension of the commitment Microsoft has with Kenya’s Ministry of Education which spans over two decades.

“The Ministry of Education has made a great step in the right direction by approving a product that will enhance digital literacy among students in Kenya. We enjoin ourselves in this journey to bring this piece of education to Kenyan schools. Students who learn and understand coding have an advantage of becoming full participants – rather than merely spectating – in a heavily computerized and digitized world,” said Ms. Githinji. “What is more? The beauty of understanding how digitization and connectivity works means that our children will have an opportunity to compete for job opportunities beyond boundaries without necessarily having to travel there in the world of remote working.”

Kodris Africa CEO Mugumo Munene celebrated the new partnership and said it would enhance the firm’s purpose of enhancing digital literacy among Kenyan students for socio-economic transformation.
“This partnership that we have signed marks an important milestone towards making coding a reality for learners across Kenya and indeed the rest of Africa. Partnerships can only be good news for learners who deserve all the knowledge that they can acquire in their years of study so that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers from around the world. Kodris Africa adds to the skills they are acquiring in school and enhances their ability to competitively navigate the 21st century,” said Mr. Munene.