Leading African NGO widens access to e-learning for nomadic herdspeople in Kenya with NComputing desktop virtualisation

Windhoek, Namibia – May 28, 2013 – At this year’s eLearning Africa conference, NComputing, the leader in accelerating the adoption of desktop virtualisation, today reported on the latest customer successes using its desktop virtualisation solutions to increase access to high quality Information and Communications  Technology (ICT) and e-learning in Africa.

NComputing’s desktop virtualisation technology helps African schools, colleges and universities overcome the key challenges related to building and sustaining high quality ICT infrastructure, including limited access to electricity, financial resources and shortage of IT skills.

Among the latest customers is Dupoto-e-Maa, an African non-governmental organisation (NGO) specialising in the promotion of education and economic development for pastoralist communities of traditional herdspeople raising livestock on a large scale in Kenya. The organisation focuses on the role of ICT in education, using NComputing vSpace end-to-end desktop virtualisation solutions to support a range of key projects aimed at improving access to e-learning in remote rural areas.

Dupoto chose NComputing because its desktop virtualisation technology provided an affordable, flexible solution for equipping classrooms, computer laboratories and staff rooms. In addition to being a more cost-effective alternative to large scale PC implementations, the solution enables Dupoto to provide students and teachers with a high quality e-learning experience without the requirement for on-site technical support, while the technology’s low power consumption is ideal for locations where power supplies aren’t reliable.

So far Dupoto has implemented NComputing thin client solutions at five schools and this is set to double by the end of the year. Keith Kosdine, Project Officer ICT at Dupoto states that, “hopefully by the end of this year we will have installed six more NComputing implementations and next year we’ll set up a lab. We’re almost halfway down the line since we implemented the solutions in these schools and so far so good.”

Among the Dupoto projects using NComputing solutions are:

AIC Boarding School

AIC boarding school, based in Kenya, has seen a wealth of improvement to their teachers’ working lives with the introduction of NComputing solutions. With classes sometimes surpassing 120 students and tasks having to be manually completed, teachers struggled with managing the education process effectively. Now AIC has taken the first step in improving access to ICT for its 700 pupils thanks to a donation of laptops and vSpace virtual desktop solutions from Dupoto.

Teachers are now ICT literate and tasks that had previously taken three to four days now take less than an hour, allowing them to give greater focus to improving the pupils’ learning experience. Helen Inoti, ICT teacher at AIC, also commented that this technology makes lessons “much easier, it is enjoyable, all the teachers are using it and it’s fun.” The new technology means teachers can easily compile lesson plans and exam results, as well as download information for the pupils and use video clips to enhance their lessons.

Isinya Youth Polytechnic

Isinya Youth Polytechnic faced some major challenges when it came to installing a computer network. Limited access to computers and electricity meant Isinya had a long way to go in getting their ICT department up and running. The five PCs previously in place were insufficient given the number of students and the dusty climate caused frequent maintenance issues. Last year Dupoto came into the school to discuss the options available and recommended NComputing for its power saving capabilities. Once the IT lab was set up, the teachers were fully trained on how to use the new technology, giving them the necessary tools to pass onto their students. The teachers have been able to improve their lessons with access to current content, which is more interesting, varying and interactive for the students. In addition the teachers can now easily monitor students’ work from their own desk.

 Motivation is at an all time high with plans afoot to increase the number of computers in classrooms and even offer a standalone ICT course. Judith Mumo Kiolo, Deputy Manager and Fashion and Design Instructor at Isinya commented “I feel more motivated because before we used to use chalks but now we are using computers and we can type our work. We have moved from analogue to digital.”

NComputing has worked with a number of African customers and technology partners, like Dupoto, on important projects such as solar powered digital classrooms in Zambia, a growing network of computer labs for South Africa’s Western Cape Schools and digital classrooms for female students in Tanzania.

NComputing will be showcasing its latest desktop virtualisation solutions, as well as these real-life examples at eLearning Africa, the international conference on ICT for development, education and training in Africa. The event runs from May 29^th – 31^st at the Safari Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia and visitors to booth 7 can learn more about NComputing’s extensive experience of working with African educators, governments and entrepreneurs to deliver reliable and high-quality ICT access to all educational institutions.

About NComputing

NComputing, Inc. is the leader in accelerating the adoption of desktop virtualisation. Removing the barriers through a unique formula of simplicity, performance and value, NComputing’s integrated solutions serve global enterprise and mid-market companies in key verticals such as education, healthcare and government. With over 20 million daily users in 140 countries, the company is fuelling the adoption of desktop virtualisation faster than any other in the world. To learn more, visit http://www.ncomputing.com.

Media Contact

onechocolate communications
Daniel Couzens, Diana Kurteva & Jenny Anderson for NComputing
T: +44 (0) 207 437 0227
E: ncomputing@onechocolatecomms.co.uk