The final Edition of Transforming Education Series in Kenya this year, was conducted this week by Global Peace Foundation Kenya, in partnership with The Standard Media Group, Kenya Private Schools Association, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers and Oracle Academy.
This edition, which was held virtually focused on; “The Value of Realizing 100% Transition to High School in Kenya,” a discussion which brought together prominent education stakeholders, to critically review the progress on the initiative for the last 3 years and give recommendations on what can be done to improve it.
The invited panelists explored ways and means through which the initiative can achieve its mandate and ensure that all pupils can have a seamless transition to secondary schools, irrespective of their economic background, cultural norms, disabilities and financial ability.
Speaking on behalf of Kenya Private Schools Association, Ms. Eva Naputuni called upon the government and other education partners to really consider learners who are abled-differently and give them necessary learning tools and conducive environment to ensure they are not left behind in accessing quality education.
” My recommendation is to call upon the government to provide learning materials, enough teachers and assistant teachers to aid in facilitating these learners to acquire education, just like their regular colleagues,” said Ms. Eva.
In her part, Ms. Bereke Amassoma from Oracle Academy, addressed the use of technology in enhancing out of classroom teaching, explaining how teachers and other educators can reach out to many learners by adopting online teaching techniques to promote 100% transition.
She gave an example of how Nigeria, which has one of the best education transition policies in Africa, has achieved much by incorporating technology in the curriculum implementation.
” As we speak now, many children in Nigeria are able to do research in different subjects online and gain quality education contents offered by different companies and experts,” she elaborated.
On the other hand, Mr. Akello Misori, who represented Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, said that teachers have embraced the initiative as a way of making education affordable to all students, despite numerous challenges they face in making it a reality.
“The Implementation of the initiative was started when Teachers Service Commission had a deficit of more than one hundred thousand teachers and the number of students has since grown immensely, not matching teacher-student ratio,” he lamented.
The panelists were also able to respond to numerous questions raised by participants who actively interacted with them in raising their concerns about this noble initiative.
This was the 10th Edition of Transforming Education Series, wrapping up a year-long discussion, which seek to bring on board educators, policy makers, ministry of education officials, union bodies and other education stakeholders together and discuss how best practices can be employed in our schools to achieve a holistic learning process that also matches world job market demands.