Category: Education

Kenya is in the process of changing its education system from the 8-4-4 curriculum to the competence based learning in order to address a number of challenges.

The changes are expected to help improve the quality of education in Kenya. These changes have been a long time coming for many reasons. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of those reasons why Kenya is changing their education system!

The 8-4-4 was too academic

A qualitative study found that children couldn’t articulate what they learned because so much content was being pushed on them. The learners had to cram so many subjects into their heads that the quality of education suffered.

This curriculum also concentrated on passing exams at the expense of teaching children life skills. It only favored people who were good at memorization and not those with analytical skills or those with curiosity for knowledge. Most importantly, it didn’t encourage students to find out more about themselves through research projects in class-room settings.

The new curriculum which is based on competencies will focus on teaching children a set of skills and it will enable them think critically and creatively so as to be able to empower themselves economically. It’s not all about passing exams, but how they will apply the knowledge they have acquired.

Lack of entrepreneurial skills

The old education system put so much emphasis on being employed instead of entrepreneurship. This led to a situation where there were more graduates seeking jobs rather than them starting their own businesses that they can use to employ themselves and others. As a result the unemployment rate in Kenya soared to a record 10.4% as at December 2020 according to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics.

To solve this problem, Kenya had to develop a curriculum that will change the paradigm shift from an employment-based economy to one of entrepreneurship. This requires people who can think critically and creatively to come up with new ideas, products and services that will foster economic growth. The old system failed kids in this regard as it was all about getting a job!

As an entrepreneur, I can attest to the fact that creativity and critical thinking are a must if you want your business venture to succeed. The new educational system is designed from scratch with entrepreneurship as its focus point, so that young people can learn how to create ideas into viable products/services and develop solutions they need for themselves and their communities.

Emergence of social vices

Due to the high unemployment rate ,drug and substance abuse and also crime was on the rise. This was because there were few opportunities for young people to take part in meaningful activities that will prepare them for a successful career.

The old system of education had failed Kenyans and it needed to be reformed or completely rewritten if we wanted our country to succeed, prosper economically and reduce these social vices.

The competence based curriculum is designed to give more attention to vocational training so that students may be able to undertake various income generating activities upon graduation and not stay idle.

Nurturing of gifts and talents

Kenyans are gifted in various areas and we need to encourage them to explore their talents. The old system of education did not do this as it had a general syllabus that was designed for everyone.

The new curriculum is more personalized so that children can discover the talents they have been endowed with early on in life and perfect these gifts to create jobs, wealth creation and economic growth for themselves and the country in future.

With the new curriculum the country will have more athletes like David Rudisha’s and Pamela Jelimo or more musicians such as Bahati.

Lack of quality education

I am a university student in Kenya, and I want to talk about the challenges that we face as students. The quality of education is going down largely because the government doesn’t provide enough money to fund universities and colleges.

I also feel that most of the content that is taught in universities is outdated ,or is not tailored to our career interests. It’s also difficult for students to get internships as well because the economy isn’t doing so well and companies only want people who have experience in their industry.

These are just examples of why higher education in Kenya needs help! Below are some of other challenges facing university education in Kenya.

Absent Lecturers

A majority of lecturers skip classes and do not attend the whole duration of the semester. And when lecturers are present, they only teach a few hours before disappearing again.

This affects our grades and demoralizes us because it is hard to keep up with our work when there is no consistency in teaching quality or subject matter mastery by professors.

This also makes students less likely to attend classes and puts them at a disadvantage in the course they are undertaking.

High University fees

University tuition fees in Kenya have been steadily increasing every year. Unless you are a government sponsored student, you can rake in hundreds of thousands in school fees.

This has led to a decrease in the number of students able to get higher education because they cannot afford it. Additionally, many people are unable to work or study while paying for university or college which affects their grades.

For example, a student undertaking a parallel degree in any of the universities in Kenya will cough out approximately Ksh 100,000 per term. This translates to over Ksh 1 million shillings over the course duration. This is an amount that not many Kenyans can afford.

Absence of student loans

The lack of availability of student loans such as HELB, not only to cover tuition fees but also other living costs such as accommodation and transportation is a major challenge faced by Kenyan university students.

Recently HELB announced that due to former students defaulting on their loans and some not repaying their loans promptly, the amount that will be disbursed this year will be significantly lower. This will affect the number of students that can access this loan in future years.

For this reason, many Kenyan university hopefuls are forced to forego their aspirations because they cannot afford tuition fees or living costs.

High cost of living

It’s tough living on campus if you don’t have money to pay for food or accommodation. Due to inflation, the cost of living has risen tenfold over a span of a few years. This makes it difficult for us Kenyan students and is a major factor in the high drop-out rates of university comrades.

A classic example is where I school in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. A one bedroom house in juja, ranges from Ksh 12,000 to Ksh 15,000 per month while a few years back the price for such a unit ranged from Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 10,000. This is an increase of 70%.

Lack of curriculum standardization

Students undertaking the same degree course in two different universities are taught different content, which is a problem considering that they will apply for the same job .

In addition to this ,there is lack of standardized assessment methods for assessing students in different universities, which leads to unequal grading and poor quality graduates who cannot compete with our international counterparts such as those attending USIU or Strathmore University.

My proposal is to standardize the content taught in different universities to give every student an equal opportunity to be able to compete in the job market.

Frequent lecturer strikes

Lecturers often strike to demand better working conditions, more pay and less work load. This means that they have no choice but to look for other part time jobs in order to make ends meet.

This affects students because we are not able to attend classes when the lecturers are on strike. This leads us spending more years in university in order to complete our education.

To solve this problem universities should increase pay, and provide better working conditions for lecturers and stick to their terms of agreement with UASU.

Frequent student unrest

The Kenyan education system is in a state of crisis. The country has been struggling to educate its citizens for many years, and the problem does not seem to be improving anytime soon.

There are many obstacles that face Kenya’s education system, and these challenges must be met head on if students are ever going to receive an effective education.

In this blog post we will discuss some of the key issues facing Kenyan schools today and their solutions.

Teachers pay

First, we must discuss the issue of teacher pay. The Kenyan government has been unable to provide adequate salaries for its teachers for so many years. Teachers are often forced to work multiple jobs just so they can buy food and make ends meet month-to-month. With little time or money dedicated towards their profession, it is no wonder that many teachers are not performing well in their jobs.

A teacher in Kenya impacts the lives of many children. They are the ones students go to when they need help or a compassionate ear, and teachers often provide more than just academic knowledge. They teach life skills that can be used for years to come yet in all these they are the most underpaid profession in Kenya.

The solution is that the government should increase teachers’ salaries dramatically so that schools will have staff members who feel valued and respected in their positions.

Insufficient learning materials

The second issue involves the lack of books and materials for students to use while they are attending school, especially at lower levels. Without proper resources available for children to learn with, the quality of education in many Kenyan public schools is greatly affected.

Parents are forced to purchase learning materials on their own dime. With many Kenyans living below the poverty line, this is a big expense.

The government should provide an adequate amount of books and other learning materials to public schools so that children have access to them without having to buy their own supplies.

Gender disparity

For long time in Kenya, the girl child had been denied their right to education. Due to archaic traditions, there are parents who still believe that educating a girl child is a waste of resources as she will be married off eventually.

As a result more boys attend school than girls.This has led to poverty and high levels of unemployment for women.

Although the government has made huge strides in addressing gender inequality by creating awareness on why gender equality matters, a lot more needs to be done to ensure that all children, irrespective of gender are given equal opportunities.

Lack of enough schools

There are not enough public schools available for children to attend. This leads to many children walking long distances to attend school and also overcrowding of classes. A school like Olympic school in Kibera has a population of 200 kids per class. Due to this, the quality of education is highly compromised.

The government ought to allocate more money to the constituency development fund(CDF)which is a fund whose one of its mandate is building schools.

Lack of enough teachers

Kenya has a high teacher to student ratio, which means that many schools lack the necessary number of teachers. Some schools like Olympic primary have one full time teacher for every three classes and also some part-time staff who are not qualified in teaching. This is very detrimental as it leads to unruly behavior from students and also teachers wasting time on disciplinary issues.

The government should employ more qualified teachers in order to reduce the number of classes per teacher and so that every student is given an adequate amount of attention.

Poverty

Without money flowing into Kenya’s economy ,it is hard to pay for a good education. In families living below the poverty line, many children are forced into child labor in order to help their families survive .This means that instead of going to school and getting an education for themselves, they make money working in farms or as hawkers selling goods on the street.

The solution to this problem is poverty alleviation. The government should strive to empower the poor by providing them with job opportunities, skills training and the tools necessary for them to generate an income for themselves and their families.

Lack of adequate facilities

Kenya has a very high population density often leading to overcrowding at some schools with classrooms overflowing with pupils who have no desks or chairs. Most public schools lack resources like classes, toilets, or desks because there isn’t enough money coming in from the government to address this issue

The government should ensure that all public schools have ample resources needed to provide quality education by allocating the budget appropriately.

It should also ensure that all public schools have access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities for students, teachers and the general public .This is important because it helps prevent diseases like malaria or diarrhea in school children.

High dropout rate

Education is the backbone of any nation. It is through education that a country can develop its resources and help it grow economically, politically and socially. Teaching has been identified as one of the most fulfilling professions because it gives you opportunities to make an impact on society by helping others acquire knowledge in various fields.

Teacher training is very important in every education system. It is from here that teachers are equipped with skills and knowledge which are very essential to them and how they handle students. It is also a key component in helping improve the quality of education around the world.

In Kenya, there are many challenges that teachers face every day. This blog post will discuss some of the challenges faced by teacher training colleges in Kenya and potential solutions for overcoming them.

Unqualified teacher educators

One of the challenges that teacher training colleges in Kenya face is not having enough qualified educators to train more future teachers. In order for teacher-training programs to be successful and sustainable, they need trained professionals who teach at the college level as well as practicing professional educators with real work experience.

The solution is to recruit qualified educators from other fields, and train them to become teachers. This could be accomplished by offering professional development programs for already-trained professionals in the field of education who are willing to teach at colleges as well as running training sessions on what it means to have a teaching career that is both sustainable and successful.

TSC is already implementing this solutions as it has moved to scrap the Bachelor’s degree of Education programme which will be replaced by a post graduate diploma of education after a student completes his Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Science.

Lack of enough teacher training colleges

Another challenge is lack of enough teacher training colleges .There are only 25 public teachers colleges and 37 private institutions in Kenya .This is not enough to meet the demand of over 180,000 students yearly.

The government can increase the number of government-funded teacher training colleges by allocating funds from their budget to these institutions. They could also use some of this money for scholarships and grants, which would provide much needed financial assistance to students who are interested in pursuing a career as an educator but do not have enough resources or means to do so.

Lack of quality training for teachers

Training institutions often do not provide the quality of training that is needed to be an effective teacher. More so with the introduction of the new curriculum based on the competence based learning, teachers need to be well-equipped with the skills and knowledge required for this.

The government should implement additional teacher-training programs at universities and colleges across Kenya, which will better prepare students for a career in education as well as improve their qualifications for teaching positions.

Outdated curriculum

This is is another challenge that is faced by Kenya’s students pursuing to be teachers. The curriculum is often outdated and does not align with current trends and developments in the teaching profession.

The government should equip schools with the updated competence based curriculum as well as provide teachers with additional training to help them cope with changes that are taking place due to new innovations in technology, such as a computer-based learning environment.

Delay of deployment to schools

After training, teachers are not deployed to schools immediately. They can even take 5 years and above before TSC hires them and post them to schools. This is mainly due to lack of finances to hire all them at one go.

Parliament should allocate enough finances in the fiscal budget that will be enough to hire teachers who finish their training each year.

Traditional methods of teaching

Students are not exposed to new methods of learning. This is due to lack of exposure and training on how to use new methods that are being deployed by TSC to help teachers be more effective at their jobs.

The government should train not only teachers but also students about these new technologies so they can learn appropriate skills for this century.

The government should also work with stake holders to introduce a blended-learning approach in schools. This will allow students to be exposed to traditional and innovative ways of teaching that are geared towards equipping them with skills needed for an ever changing world.

Lack of enough funding

Resources in teachers colleges are limited. This is due to lack of sufficient funding for the sector from government and other stakeholders. This leads to inadequate equipment and facilities as well as learning materials required to provide quality training for graduates who hope to enter into the teaching profession.

The government needs to allocate more funds to the ministry of education, so that it can train enough teachers and equip them with skills that will ensure they are able to do their jobs well.

Have you just completed high school and are now searching for the best diploma courses in Kenya that you can do to kick start your career? Worry no more as Kenya currently boasts of more than 160 diploma programs, with new ones being introduced every year.

Diploma courses in Kenya are short, intense programs that train people for a specific job.Most of them take a duration of 12 months to complete.

The programme you choose will depend on what area you want it to apply in .Ask yourself these three questions:

• What career am I interested in?
• Who do my intended employer want me to be trained for that specific job?
• Can I afford the tuition fees and living expenses of a course as well as other costs associated with studying, like transport or rent?

If you’re still unsure about which program is appropriate for you , below are a few of the best programmes and where you could be employed in no specific order.

Marketable diploma courses

DIPLOMA IN PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

This is a professional program for those who are interested in managing projects from conception to implementation, including defining objectives and strategies, identifying risks, allocating resources, monitoring performance and adapting to change.

Job Prospects:You have the opportunity to work in government and non-government organisations, international development agencies and private firms involved in project management.

DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

This program for those who are interested in managing organizations, businesses and industries.

Job Prospects: You can work as a business analyst,trade specialist,procurement Officer (Supply Chain), or a financial risk management Expert.

DIPLOMA IN MASS COMMUNICATION

This is a course for those who are interested in crafting and delivering messages to specific audience through various media, such as television, radio or newspapers.

Job Prospects: You can work as an Advertising Manager, Public Relations Officer (PR), Communication Specialist or Media Analyst.

DIPLOMA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

This is a program for those who are interested in international affairs, political science, and other related fields.

Job Prospects: You can work as an International Affairs Analyst , Foreign Affairs Officer, or as a Political Analyst.

DIPLOMA IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

This is for those who are interested in the management of construction projects and their associated resources such as labour, materials and equipment.

Job Prospects: You can work as a Construction Supervisor, or a Project Engineer of a Construction Site.

DIPLOMA IN ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT

This is a programme for those who are interested in managing an enterprise, with a focus on the financial and non-financial aspects of business.

Job Prospects: You can work as a Financial Analyst (FA), Corporate Controller or Investment Banker.

DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This program is for those who are interested in technology. It prepares students to work as Information Technology Specialists or Systems Analysis and Designers.

Job Prospects: You can work as an IT Security Analyst or a Database Administrator.

DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

This programme is for those who are interested in public administration and governance, with the aim of developing graduates with a global outlook who are equipped to make leadership decisions and oversee the development of society.