Microsoft & Kenya National Library Service to train 1 Million IT scholars

A new campaign dubbed InspiredMe has been launched to train, qualify and certify more than 1 Million young technology scholars in the next 5 years in a move expected to propel the lives of millions of young Kenyans towards more specialized fields in technology.

InspiredMe is an initiative of certification exam development, delivery and program management firm Certiport has partnered with  Microsoft, Kenya National Library Services, GEMS Cambridge International School and the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology.

InspiredMe will take scholars through programs such as;

• Microsoft IT Academies – Institutions that will offer the training and testing for certification. KNLS centers will host members of the public whose academic institutions do not have IT the requisite infrastructure.
• Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship; Kenya’s top 4 performers represent Kenya at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Dallas Texas. This is the first year Kenya will participate at the championships.
• IT Boot camps (Held during school holidays at GEMS Cambridge International School)
• GEMS Cambridge International School will give a Scholarships to top IT performers from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Internship opportunities for certified scholars at leading institutions to give youth work experience.

Impact Africa will manage the 5 year programme while Certiport will be the authenticator of the training sourced from Microsoft’s IT Academies. KNLS WIll in the first phase make available 27 Library Centers around the country.

With the first ever Kenyan chapter of Microsoft Office Specialist Championship set for 29^th May, 2015, aspiring scholars have 3 months to have their academic institutions enroll for a rousing competition season that will also see counties recognize their local champions in Microsoft Word 2010 & 2013, Microsoft Excel 2010 & 2013 or Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 & 2013.

The World Championship in Dallas, Texas will seek to recognize students who demonstrate a mastery of Microsoft Office products. For the first time, Kenya will have an opportunity to field four candidates to face more than 400,000 students from 130 countries across the globe that will participate in the competition.