RentCo Partners with Institutions of Higher Learning For Students to Benefit From Laptop Leasing Program.
According to statistics, there are over 15 million students in schools in Kenya. 10.1 million learners are estimated in primary schools, 3.5 million in secondary schools and over 850,000 students are in institutions of higher learning.
Over 90% of students in colleges and universities do not own laptops while more than 70% lack access to a personal computer at home. This inaccessibility can be attributed to low household income, lack of access to financing and the high cost of study at tertiary institutions.
Lease to Learn presents an ideal solution to the challenge of access to computers in schools. RentCo Africa in partnership with Global Technology Leaders and Financial Institutions launched a Lease to Learn Program, an initiative that strives to accelerate learning by delivering laptops through a leasing model.
With this scheme, students in universities and colleges are able to acquire laptops from global manufacturers such as Lenovo, Dell, HP among many others through leasing. The student will receive and start using the laptop and then pay monthly installments for a period of 3 years, under a flexible Lease to Learn Solution from RentCo through their institutions.
RentCo’s Lease to Learn Solution is part of the Company’s Innovation and Digital Learning Program (IDLP). This program aims to address the critical situation of digital capability development for both learners and educators in Kenya and the African continent. According to RentCo’s CEO Mr.Robert Nyasimi, Lease to Learn presents an ideal way for the Government to realize its vision for a free or subsidized laptop for every student in public schools instead of outright purchase. Government must include digital learning as part of new policy interventions necessitated by the pandemic, otherwise it will be difficult to sustain education in the country if left to parents only.
The SDGs in Action
Indeed Lease to Learn Program aligns with UN Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals that aim to ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Impact of Covid-19 on Education: From Disruption to Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced uncertainty into major aspects of education, learning and development. Closure of institutions not only affected learners but also teachers and how the rapid conversion of most instruction to online platforms affected learning achievement. With schools adopting remote and digital modes of learning the learning gap has increased and most learners being excluded from online education due to challenges of access to computers and internet.
Lease to Learn can provide a way to to bridge digital learning in Kenyan schools, the African Continent and Globally.
Key Takeaways:
Why Lease to Learn?
- Facilitation of blended learning through access to and student ownership of computers.
- Fast turn-around time for laptop / computer acquisition.
- Students not only get to own the laptop at the end of the 2-3 year lease period but get to enjoy the latest and genuine software like Operating Systems, Microsoft Office, Antivirus, Learning Management Systems like QXP Global, Insurance against loss of the computer and more at no additional cost.
- Little initial cash investment required for students who cannot afford outright purchase.
- Low manageable monthly payments as parent or students pay at their pace and financial ability.
- Students get computers of their choice with their desired specifications.
- Leasing of IT equipment enable you to acquire sophisticated technologies, have predictable monthly expenses, and be able to keep up with your studies without draining your financial resources.
- Fixed-rate financing through leasing, eliminates rising interest rates throughout the lease period of up to 3 years.
Research has demonstrated that owning a personal computer increases the likelihood of improving individual outcomes for post-secondary learners. Students can not only collaborate with their peers but also explore other sources of information on their own. They can also develop skills and enhance their employability.
In conclusion, the digital ecosystem accelerates learning, internship opportunities and access to jobs. Moreover, students can access subject matter experts teaching practical courses across different industries and foster entrepreneurship through startups, eCommerce and online marketing. Lease to Learn definitely presents a viable and cost effective asset acquisition option especially to those that have no cash at hand but require computers.
Figure 1: Leasing experts at RentCo Africa discussing Lease to Learn Program
