Coast Teachers to be Trained in Sh2.4bn Project

Schools from the Coast are among beneficiaries of a Sh2.4 billion education project by the Aga Khan Foundation.

The five-year project dubbed ‘Strengthening education systems in East Africa' has been co-funded by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

More than 46,000 pre-primary and primary pupils from Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale will benefit from the project, which will see the schools get second-hand computers and servers set up in the institutions.

Head teachers and teachers from the schools will also benefit from the programme through management courses and improved skills for the teachers.

Addressing journalists at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Head of Academy, Simon Otieno, said schools to benefit will be identified through collaboration with the Education ministry.

Our programmes include English, Mathematics, Education Leadership and Management, collaborative discussion forums, teacher peer mentoring session and Professional Learning Networks.

“Our objective is to strengthen teacher education and support systems for improved and sustained learning outcomes,” Simon said.

He said special programmes have been designed for teachers which will see them advance their education and skills at the school.

The Sesea project targets schools in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where at least 188,000 will benefit at a cost of about Sh2.4 billion.

Some 720 preschool teachers through the Madrasa Early Childhood Programme will also benefit.

“The project targets to develop skilled and competent teachers through accredited professional development programme,” Simon said.

Two primary school teacher colleges and 150 primary schools in the West Nile region of Uganda have already benefited from the programme, which is currently being implemented in the country.

Simon said the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa has also concluded another project with technology company Intel Corporation, which will help improve science education among girls in the region.

He was speaking on Friday where 26 head teachers and 27 primary teachers graduated from the Academy after attending professional learning sessions in Educational Leadership and Management and Programme for Teachers of English respectively.

The Sesea project director Patrick Sikana expressed confidence that the joint programme will uplift the current poor results posted by schools in the targeted regions.

“We need better teachers, stronger institutions producing teachers and better policies for schools,” he said.

Teacher Service Commission director in Mombasa county Ibrahim Rugut termed the move a "positive capacity building project".

“We call it operation ‘ondoa kutu’(remove rust).This will help our teachers and pupils to come to date with the current changing technology and ways of studying.”

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