Health and Social Care for 2500 kids in Nairobi

The past month has been crucial because of the national elections held in Kenya on August 9th. 

Elections are always a time of great tension and this is why the Ministry of Education decided to close all schools for a week. This come at a time of great change since there's a new reform involving Primary Education. 

According to government statements, the curriculum reform is to 'create' a new generation of committed citizens with a strong sense of ethics and the means to be active participants in their community. Also according to the government, education in the country should serve to foster a sense of national unity and patriotism, but also promote national and individual development. Ultimately, it is also meant to give ethical and moral guidance to students, towards the defence of Kenyan culture, the environment and cooperation between other nations.

The reform includes a major change in teaching methodology. There will be a shift from an extremely notionalistic and frontal approach to one that envisages greater student involvement, both individually and with group work, to allow individual talents to develop and for boys and girls to acquire important soft skills.

Sense of responsibility and respect, but also appreciation of diversity and the ability to work in a team are among the main objectives of this important change of perspective.

The new curricula will therefore be oriented towards learning competences rather than notions. The main skills that the new Kenyan school will have to look for will be: collaboration and communication skills, efficiency and effectiveness, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, creativity and imagination, digital literacy, and the ability to learn independently.

Until now, schooling in Kenya was structured with an 8-year primary school, followed by a 4-year secondary school.

From now on, the new Kenyan school will comprise 6 years of primary school, the introduction of 3 years of Junior Secondary School (the equivalent of our middle school), and then conclude with 3 years of upper secondary school, divided into curricula.

The most important aspect to understand when trying to analyse education reform in Kenya is the progressive focus on the individual capabilities of each student. While at primary school this attention is very marginal, with fixed and common curricula for all, at secondary school there is total differentiation by subject matter, with an approach that encourages active student participation as much as possible.

The introduction of middle school as a separate school cycle from primary school is part of this approach. In the three years of middle school, subjects of choice and, above all, practical workshops in science and beyond will be introduced. The introduction of laboratories is one of the reasons why it was necessary, as well as legally required, to build separate schools from primary schools.

Of course this reform of education in the country affects our work, and by a lot, by confronting us with the need to build new schools, to equip them with all the necessary equipment. But it also represents an opportunity to give an even better education to our children and young people. An education that rewards merit and quality, as well as the interests of each student.