Local computer assembler Mustek East Africa Limited in partnership with personal computers distributors, Intel, D-Link and Mecer East Africa, have launched a new e-learning program.

The project buys into the recently launched East African Community program, the ‘one-child one lap-top' initiative.

Mustek East Africa Managing Director Riana Keyser said the new project will utilize government initiated laying of the fibre-optic cable that is expected to increase the band-width making it easier for students to use internet in the learning environment.

She said that, the newly launched program will also make internet accessible to rural areas. Keyser said the new product is knowledge based and if utilized well could add value to what many students have been able to gunner from teachers.

The project is already being implemented at Kamiti High School and is expected to roll out through out the country.

"A similar project has shown success in Uganda under the Maendeleo Foundation which uses solar power at Kisyoro Secondary School and under the Millenium Villages Project of Ruhiira in Uganda," said Suraj Shah the Corporate Affairs Manager at Intel Corporation.

Mecer East Africa, Channel Sales Manager Albert Kigada urged for increased uptake of computer knowledge in schools in order to develop a computer literate society in the country.

Physical integration of e-learning which consists of making technological equipment available to teachers and students and promoting its use under the e-schools initiative rolled out by the New Partnership for Africa's Development - Nepad that targets 600,000 schools on the continent.

Nepad acknowledges that the ever-evolving nature of Information and Communication Technologies - ICT not only makes it essential for a modern day employee to be equipped with ICT skills,hence the move to lay the foundation for e-learning in schools by providing computers to selected schools on the continent.

The continent has however had to contend with problems including connectivity, access and policy that hinder total up take of ICT.

Dr Henry Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairperson of the e-Africa Commission said the e-schools initiative is a detailed country strategy for each of 17 African countries.