RH10 9UN, LONDON, Nov. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hundreds of thousands of laptops are set to be delivered to schools across Kenya by G4S in a government drive to boost IT literacy.

The Kenyan government plans to fund the computers for the country’s 22,000 primary schools, dubbed the ‘Digischool’ programme.

It believes that the initiative will be a major boost to not only education – putting Kenyan schoolchildren on a par with their global counterparts – but also the country’s economy.

G4S Kenya has signed an agreement with one of the two universities selected to supply and install the devices, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Over the next two years, the business will distribute 365,737 devices to 8,600 primary schools in 21 counties, through its existing courier services network.

The equipment is being stored and secured at G4S Kenya’s main hub in Nairobi, where work has already begun to pack and deliver the laptops to an initial 75 schools.

“We’re delighted to be involved in such an important programme for Kenya, which will empower our young people with advanced IT knowledge and help secure the future of our country,” said Geoffrey Mwove, Director – Courier, G4S Kenya.

“We already have an extensive courier operation, with more than 600 vehicles and 141 offices nationally, which was one of the factors in the award of the contract to G4S.”

Announcing the government’s plans, Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, said: “We are now starting on a journey that will without a doubt transform not just the education sector but the entire economy.

“When we put these devices in the hands of our children, we are securing not just their future but that of the country and look forward to being a global IT powerhouse in a few years.”

Deputy President William Ruto added: “We have trained 80,000 teachers in all primary schools in readiness for this massive programme. We have also ensured that each school is connected to electricity.

“This programme will revolutionize the process of learning in this country and put our children on a par with their global counterparts.”

Notes to Editors

G4S Kenya is in talks with the government over plans to eventually extend the programme to Grade 1 and secondary schools.

Media contacts:

For all media enquiries please contact G4S Media Team at media@g4s.com or call +44 (0) 20 7963 3333

About G4S

G4S is the world’s leading global, integrated security company specialising in the delivery of security and related services to customers across six continents.

The group is active in more than 100 countries*, and is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange with over 610,000* employees and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen.

*Includes 44,000 employees in businesses in 15 countries that are being sold or exit

For more information on G4S, visit www.g4s.com