Safaricom has announced that its customers can now purchase tokens for coding lessons on M-PESA. This is following an agreement with online publishing firm Kodris Africa.
When customers purchase a year’s worth of coding lessons, they will be required to activate them on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer for their children. Coding, which is also known as programming, involves translating human intentions into commands that can be understood by computers.
“We are excited to partner with Kodris to expand access to learning solutions to more than 30 million M-PESA customers who can now conveniently access the Kodris Mini App through our M-Pesa Super App,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.
The Safaricom-Kodris deal follows the approval of the coding curriculum by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KIDC). This is as the government moves to boost digital literacy for learners.
Kenya is the first African country to approve coding as part of the syllabus. Kodris will be offering the syllabus in another 49 nations on the continent. Coding and computer programming are becoming vital job skills in a changing world that is more computerized and connected.
Kodris Africa chief executive Mugumo Munene said that the partnership with Safaricom will boost initiating coding in Kenya’s education system.
“The skills that students will learn will be relevant today and tomorrow and allow them to explore and unleash their creativity and innovativeness in a highly digitized and computerized world which offers growth opportunities,” he said.
