Spotlights on Teacher Preparation Programme Interns
Last year, the Aga Khan Academy, International Baccalaureate and University of British Columbia (UBC) entered a partnership agreement to collaborate on the Academies’ Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP) in Mombasa, Kenya. Under this agreement, UBC faculty members will assess portfolios produced by TPP interns in order for them to be recognised by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for an IB educators certificate.
In February 2018, for the first time under this partnership, the IB Teacher Education programme at UBC connected with six new Aga Khan Academy TPP interns with whom they will work over the next 18 months.
The UBC IB team will also connect with mentor teachers at the Academies to build relationships and learn from one another across different cultural contexts.
Here are the personal stories of the six TPP interns:
Iyad Khasabuli
I am Iyad Khasabuli. I hold a bachelor's degree in Education Arts (with IT) from Maseno University, class of 2016. Upon graduation, I was employed as a teacher at Sacred Heart, Mukumu Girls’ High School which is based on the 8-4-4 system of learning until January this year. As an educator, I am a firm believer in nurturing future leaders with a rich sense of ethics, critical thinking skills and an open-minded approach to solving problems around the world. I believe that change should be the major outcome of education and not a by-product.
Maurine Akoth Ojwang
Hello, I’m Maurine Akoth Ojwang, an English and learning support TPP intern at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. I hold a bachelor's degree in Education (Special Needs Education) second class upper division. In addition, I have been able to attend a three-week professional training on peer education, and I have worked at Oshwal Academy, Nairobi as a special needs teacher. I enjoy working with young learners. My greatest delight is working with learners with various learning needs and enabling them to meet their full potential. It is a great pleasure being in the Teacher Preparation Program.
I believe that every learner is unique and special, hence they should be exposed to stimulating teaching and learning environments for them to meet their full potential holistically. I will present a curriculum that incorporates different learning styles as well as make the content authentic to the students’ lives through the consolidation of different teaching and learning approaches. Teaching is a learning process; learning from your students, colleagues, parents and the community. This is a lifelong process where you learn new strategies, new ideas and new philosophies. Over time, my educational philosophy may change, and that’s okay. That just means that I have grown, and learned new things.
Oliver Baya Wanje
My name is Oliver Baya Wanje, an intern in the Teacher Preparation Programme of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. I teach Global Politics in the Diploma Programme and Integrated Humanities in the Middle Years Programme. I am passionate about facilitating learners to get the best possible holistic education. I joined the Academy in May 2017 as a Teaching Assistant in the Junior School’s Primary Years Programme before joining the Teacher Preparation Programme. Since then, I relish the environment and opportunities offered to students and teachers, making them a community of lifelong learners. I am looking forward to a fulfilling learning experience at the Academy and most specifically to get exposed to the foundations of the International Baccalaureate programme. I hold a bachelor's degree in Education from Pwani University (Kenya) where I specialised in History & Government and Kiswahili.
Phelesters Nekesa
Most people prefer to call me Phelly. I am a graduate of Egerton University, Kenya with a Bachelor of Education in Science degree in Mathematics and Physics. This is my highest level of education so far; I hope to do more.
I have also been trained in peer guidance and counseling in the same university and have practiced for three years now and counting. As a teacher, I have practiced in the field for a [total] of about three years now in both public and private high schools of our national 8-4-4 curriculum.
It’s during these years that I have discovered that the sole role of a teacher is not just in teaching but in knowing and understanding the welfare of the students. The classroom is a dynamic place, with a representation of all societal challenges: health, economy, social etc. All of these things come to class with students, yet they need to learn more whether excited or otherwise. This is why my philosophy of teaching looks at the entire process of learning and teaching as one that requires motivation to both learners and teachers, commitment to the duties that make my day and empowering of students through their own declarations. When they define their own identities because of the motivation they receive in class, then learning becomes more meaningful. A network of students with care for the self and others is built, and I believe this is one of the major aims of education.
My passion and drive lie in seeing learners move through different levels of education not only with academic knowledge, but with social knowledge that enables them to live coherently in the society and be useful and empowered members. I look forward to realising this in this Academy.
Lucas Mwafusi Mrunde
I am Lucas Mwafusi Mrunde, an intern at the Junior School. I joined the Academy in January 2018, under the Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP). I have previously worked as an intern at the Kilifi Children’s Department, taught at Kitivo Primary School for my teaching practice, and as well as a tutor at Taita Taveta ECDE College. I acquired my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at Pwani University, with a second class honours, upper division. I really love children and like working with them. I am looking forward to having a positive influence on my students and colleagues.
My educational philosophy statement: learners are active participants in learning. I believe learners are able to learn by themselves, given that they are provided with relevant and age appropriate learning material/ instructions as well as provided with a friendly and safe environment. My role is to facilitate and guide the learners.
Fiona Makena Kinyua
I am Fiona Makena Kinyua. My desire to always make a change in the society...motivated me to pursue a degree course in Bachelor of Education Science (Mathematics and Chemistry). The two subjects are mostly perceived to be male dominated; therefore my choice of subjects would encourage students, especially the girl child in the schools where I get an opportunity to teach.
I have taught in four schools, and I have teaching experience of one year. After completing a bachelor's degree, I was lucky to be selected in the Teacher Preparation Programme for the three-week institute, which changed my view on education, learning and teaching. That is, as a teacher I should be reflective, a facilitator and also be willing to learn. I also learned about differentiation, Bloom’s taxonomy, translanguaging and technology. It is now my turn to put all that into practice. The 18-month program will provide me an opportunity to learn, be able to use different strategies, integrate technology in the classroom, create conducive environment for learning to enable students to love my subjects and also develop a positive attitude towards Chemistry and Mathematics.
I believe in empowering the students by creating a conducive learning environment which lets them relate their classroom learning to real life experience. This will facilitate meaningful learning, making my learners and I competent enough to make positive contributions to the society.
The teacher stories here were originally published by UBC.
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