Cyber School a great success

Students who use our facilities in Kamuli say a recent three-month trial of a computer-based science teaching programme has been a great success... so we've now gone ahead with a licence to put it to full use for the next three years.

Earlier this year UDS decided to evaluate a scheme called Cyber School, an e-learning programme to teach mainly science subjects at GCE O-level. We hoped that this would help students who do not have access to laboratories or science equipment in their schools.

The scheme was supplied by Cyber School Technology Solutions, a Nairobi-based company that offers digital education services worldwide.  Its courses specialise in science and mathematics.

 

Cyber School was available for three months in our study centre, located in our library, and became very popular. A total of 76 students signed up to use it, and up to 10 students came in every day to access Cyber School.

Many students were intimidated by the prospect of using a computer, but UDS’ library staff soon put them at ease, and three months on many of them are full of praise for the programme. 

Student Joel Zirimenya said, “I had some problems in the science subjects more especially physics,”  but now: “I’m in the best five who are wizards in physics at the school.”

Fellow student Benard Kaima was at first reluctant to use a computer, but now says: “The system helped me find and cover topics that we skipped at school, these topics were never taught even up to now, and the exercises provided at least opened my eyes to a world of questions.”  

Students were dismayed when the demo version expired recently, just as they approached exam period. But now we have a three-year licence, they can look forward to making full use of its benefits for the near future at least.