Education transformation is a gradual but continuous process being undertaken by different countries in the world to align their curriculum to the market demands of the day. Curriculum development is a critical role in providing quality education since what is taught in class should remain relevant and helpful in the real life of the learners and coherent with real life realities.
Learners and educators ought to be informed of new innovative cultures in education, trending technological advancements and the need to incorporate creativity in the syllabus to ensure “an-all-round “students. It is also worth noting that over the years, learning has been perceived to be for students only, without offering training and skills to teachers and educators to update them on new ideas, innovations, creative arts and craft which can better the knowledge and skills being taught to the learners.
The demand for training of teachers and educators remains a very significant and essential mandate which should be done by the government, NGOs, education stakeholders and STEM organizations jointly or selectively in order to achieve substantive education.
It is this desire to rethink, re-align and modernize education that Global Peace Foundation Kenya in conjunction with Inspired Insights Africa Limited organized and conducted a 3-hour virtual workshop for teachers and educators in Kenya under the theme; “Nurturing Character and Creativity: Creating Transformative School Cultures Post Pandemic” on 22nd May, 2021.
This unique opportunity brought together over 40 teachers from both public and private learning institutions to share notes on how character and creativity can be best instilled in classwork for a meaningful and objective learning process. The training also offered excellent insights on how these educators can promote personalized learning amongst students based on their strengths and talents in life.
The workshop was categorized into two major topics shared by the facilitators as follows:
1. Dr. Tony Devine, Vice President Education, Global Peace Foundation- The Need for Developing Character and Creativity.
2. Mrs. Betty Ochieng, Life and Executive Coach/CEO, Inspired Insights Africa Limited– The Emerging Future Role of Teachers in Developing Character and Creativity.
The two panelists gave an amazing presentation, dwelling much on how teachers can be key stakeholders in molding learners to identify their education strengths either academic based or natural talent and systematically prioritizing on what they can do best in future.
Positivity in learning amongst teachers themselves and their subjects would also pave way for personalized learning where each learner is treated differently but given equal opportunity like others.
The participants who were grouped in different discussion breakout rooms shared their outcomes through their representatives, an aspect which made the discussion lively as they also got the opportunity to address the forum.
Apart from the two main facilitators, other representatives from supportive organizations such as Oracle Academy represented by Ms. Bekere Amassoma and Mr. John Kimotho from Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development also stressed on the significance and uniqueness of cultivating creativity in learning institutions to achieve excellent output. On his part, Mr. Stephen Ebichondo, Azure Specialist Microsoft in Education requested for teamwork to enhance classroom experience, especially on creativity to tap it to the talents that our students have.
In general, the workshop was acknowledged and appreciated by both participants and panelists as have achieved its objectives, creating space for more training of the same nature. A few illustrations of how significant the training was, is shared in the testimonials below:
“Both presentations were very well done it was great experience we would like to say that to both presenters if we continue building on such workshop we will build our own capacity and thinking. All of these thoughts we have all had, engaged and actually built experience in some level or the other but coming together on one forum we reinforce the idea at the same level. For future discussion it might be a great topic to pick on how we can create a learning environment within a class room to avoid bullying, in terms of physical and mental bullying. In a classroom there are mixed performing levels and children tend to overshadow each other. Building inner strength as Madam Betty said, will create better learning environment.” Manraj Pallan, Director, Laiser Hill Academy
“I want to appreciate the workshop; it will help me in facilitating academic counselling. I wish to suggest another topic, that is, building self-esteem in students with teachers as models, to strike a balance from top to average achievers.” Carolyn Rotich, Teacher/Language and Humanities, Moi Tea Girls Secondary School
“I concur with my colleague that at county schools we need more of these workshops. If we can focus on the challenges facing students in the 3rd generation schools, that is the county schools, and also the dynamic in the challenges since the challenges evolve.” Lucy Mwendwa, Ruiga Mixed Day Secondary School