Empowered schools embrace the competency based curriculum: sharing the Kenya connect empowered school model in Machakos county

Abstract

Rural public schools face many challenges and are severely under-resourced. Students are eager to learn and parents see schools as a means for upward mobility for their children. However, public schools struggle due to lack of resources, overcrowded classes, and outdated teaching methodologies. Kenya Connect, a Non-Governmental Organization in Wamunyu, Machakos County has been working to enrich education for the last twenty years. In 2019, we piloted an “Empowered School” program with Sofia primary school participating. This program provides the creation of Professional Learning Communities among the teachers, resources to the schools including art supplies, rulers, educational posters, after-school LitClubs in partnership with LitWorld plus Level-Up Village STEM classes, refurbishing the classrooms with fresh and bright paint, cork-boards and strips to hang student work. In order to be an “Empowered School” all teachers and the head teacher agreed to participate in weekly professional development and other Kenya Connect programs. The Parent Management Committee was also consulted and needed to give their support. Teachers are now using strategies to facilitate a student-centered classroom and are seeing a deeper engagement in learning. We have been monitoring the test scores and noted that the Empowered Schools have higher student achievement than our other partner schools. In 2020, our Empowered Schools scored a mean score of 320 out of 500 against our regular schools who scored 280 out of 500 in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. As well, teachers are reporting that students are using critical thinking and problem solving skills, in addition to being more creative.