Airtel Kenya has boldly removed data prices for the Kenya Education Cloud and Elimika platforms, enabling free digital learning and teacher development nationwide.
These vital education portals’ data prices will be zero-rated, changing the narrative of many Kenyan schools and teachers’ digital access expenses.
Airtel Kenya claims that this program aims to provide curriculum-aligned content to instructors and students without imposing data constraints, laying the groundwork for more equitable access to education.
Free data access expands digital learning reach
Airtel Kenya works with the Ministry of Education and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to guarantee that students can access rich learning resources on the Kenya Education Cloud platform for free and that teachers can upgrade their skills.
The program aligns with Airtel Africa and UNICEF‘s $57 million investment to promote digital learning throughout the continent.
Elimika provides video classes, interactive assignments, and professional development resources to 141 public elementary schools with 300 GB of monthly data and government-issued tablets.
Airtel Kenya says, “This move seeks to make digital access sustainable by removing data barriers, empowering teachers and preparing learners to thrive in a technology-driven economy”.
Addressing access gaps with targeted support
With only 23.8% of homes having stable internet and less than half of secondary schools having computer laboratories, data availability in Kenya is uneven. Rural communities encounter these issues most.
Airtel’s zero-rating faces these obstacles, promoting educational equity. The Kenya Education Cloud supports Kenya’s Competency-Based Education curriculum from pre-primary to Grade 9.
The agreement permits schools to plan for uninterrupted digital learning and provides instructors with needed curricular support through Elimika without data expenses.
As Airtel affirms, students “gain better preparation for participation in the digital economy, while teachers integrate technology into classrooms in practical, sustainable ways”.
This program demonstrates how technology access can open up educational opportunities throughout Kenya.