NAIROBI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- StarTimes, a pay-TV operator, and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) have entered into a partnership agreement to boost online learning in Kenya amid school closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an official said on Thursday.

Andy Wang, StarTimes Kenya CEO said in a statement that through the collaboration, StarTimes Kenya will provide access to KICD-approved curriculum on their digital television platform to make sure that students who are currently at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic continue learning through the broadcaster's platforms.

"We have partnered with KICD to allow us to carry approved education content on our platforms. Currently, we have ensured that EDU Channel is available through our set-top boxes as a free-to-air channel, and uploaded approved primary and secondary school curriculum on our StarTimes ON mobile application platform to ensure the majority of students have access to the education materials," Wang said.

Joel Mabonga, acting CEO at KICD, said that the collaboration will grow the number of platforms available to engage students who are learning at home with the content accessible on mobile application being a strategic option given the high mobile penetration in the county.

"We need to go out of our ways to make sure that learning continues even under the current COVID-19 situation as we establish strategic partnerships that will help us achieve our mandate as an institute tasked with a national responsibility of developing curricula and curriculum support materials informed by research for all levels of education below the university," said Mabonga.

The partnership is expected to bridge the gap in ensuring that learners complement the radio and EDU TV education content with that which is now available on the StarTimes ON mobile application.