Guidance on Virtual Learn, Sqillpad, and Digital Learning in Uganda

Virtual Learn platform is a comprehensive, inclusive and curriculum based teaching and learning tool, aimed at aiding learners in both primary and secondary schools, with or without the internet to access content, simulations and assessments for their respective subjects and levels. The platform lets teachers, parents, head teachers, and other stakeholders access learners' platforms and track their progress, as well as supporting teaching and learning and other educational programs.

Virtual Learn software mitigates these education sector issues: ICT unfriendly teacher training; poor national ICT facilities and connectivity; Uganda's limited ODeL usage; digital skills are not taught in basic school, at secondary level ICT is elective; lack of or limited capacity among learners to learn with technology, among teachers and faculty to teach with technology and create local pedagogical content, methods, and solutions, and among serving officers to adopt ICTs in their daily duties; and low ICT literacy and science and Mathematics training to push digital education.

The Virtual Learn System has been approved by National Planning Authority (NPA), National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, and Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), as the essential and suitable digital learning mechanism the country requires in the 21st century for its transformation and development.

The Virtual Laboratory is a simulated environment in which learners can conduct experiments, tests, and simulations using the Sqillpad Platform. It provides a safe and convenient way for learners to conduct research in order to explore and learn various concepts and techniques without the need for costly equipment, apparatus, chemicals and specimen.

The Virtual Learn System will benefit many categories of people including learners, teachers, schools, parents, MoES, the industry and communities among others.

The Ugandan government has made steps to implement ICT in education inside and outside the classroom. ICT has improved learning and teaching, research and development, and administrative tasks in some MDAs. However Uganda is lagging behind compared to some of our neighbours. Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and other neighbouring nations have adopted ICT for teachers and students, unlike Uganda. For instance, in Kenya, more than 2 million learners are using tablets in the classrooms from pre primary. Kenya also has an assembly plant for PCs, and have begun making computer mother boards. In Rwanda, many learners use tablets and laptops in the classroom and they are assembled locally. In 2014 Tanzania secured funding from World Bank to make it possible for learners to acquire personal computers for studies. In the RSA the government is experimenting multiple ICT strategies for school levels. In Ethiopia, the Prisma program has been instituted where all learners are learning the same subject at any one time managed from the centre. In Zambia, the school tablet computer is one of the instructional materials for Primary education.

The interventions under Virtual Learn, which include digitization of learning through provision of tablets embedded with the national curriculum, enhancement of ICT skills, will culminate in improved knowledge and skills of learners at Primary and Secondary on the application of ICT; flexible online/offline learning environments that learners can access anywhere and anytime; improved academic performance; reduced disparities between rural and urban schools; employment opportunities; enhanced equity and content access for all Ugandan learners; easy access by Government to unfiltered information from all government schools concerning learner performance, teachers' performance and attendances; improved examination system if embraced by regulatory and examination bodies.

Virtual Learn is actually enabling the teacher to acquire ICT skills and improve the teaching and learning process. The System provides the platform for the teacher to interact with the learner in group and individual activities, and to evaluate their performance. Via the teachers' platform, good practices are shared and the teachers can learn from one another to improve on the pedagogical skills.

The Sqillpad tablet PC is designed for use in educational settings and includes features to help ensure the safety of students (not access unwanted/unintended material) while using the device. A mobile device management system has been integrated in Sqillpad tablet to assist administrators in managing device use and ensuring compliance with school or MoES policies and regulations.

The Sqillpad virtual learning platform is designed to be flexible and accessible on a wide range of devices, including desktop computers, laptops and smartphones via web, and Android smartphones and tablet PCs. This allows learners to access the platform from various devices based on their needs and preferences. The above is subject to the school policy with regard to what devices are allowed in the respective schools.

Yes, if the devices match our technical requirements Sensal can secure non Sqillpad tablet PCs.

No. Finishing school does not mean the end of your Sqillpad.
The tablet remains a learning and knowledge device that you can continue using for revision, research, reading and other educational resources available through the platform. It is designed to remain a safe and focused learning device throughout its useful life.
Much like a good textbook, Sqillpad can also continue helping others after you have completed the level for which you originally used it. You may pass it on to a younger sibling, relative or friend who is still in school, giving another learner the opportunity to benefit from the same learning resource. And unlike a printed textbook, Sqillpad is dynamic its digital content and learning resources can continue to be updated and improved, helping it remain relevant over time.
We believe learning does not end with the last day of school. Whether you are preparing for your next stage of education, building new skills or simply looking something up to understand it better, your Sqillpad can continue to be useful long after you leave the classroom.
That is why the protections that make Sqillpad a safe and focused learning environment remain part of the device throughout its life. In this way, Sqillpad is more than a device for one learner or one stage of school it is a learning resource whose value can continue for years and even be shared with the next learner.

The policy ensures that devices are used according to school rules and norms. To integrate their policies into the mobile device management system, schools must send them to Sensal Systems.

Mobile Device Management systems demand resources and support. Features and services determine the cost of securing a tablet PC on a mobile device control system. Thus there will be some charge for securing the devices.

No, parents do not pay anything as long as they have active learners using the Sqillpad Platform.