Teachers are expected to start teaching in town centres and villages any time soon. The Ministry of Education announced this plan as a way of recovering the lost time lost for learning since learning was suspended following the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Since the closure of schools, majority of learning institutions have been embracing virtual learning to keep their learning busy until January next year when schools are expected to be reopened according to the announcement made by Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha.
However, to some learners, online learning is another big challenge as financial conditions worsening. Some students cannot access online services due to poverty levels, lack of electricity in their regions not forgetting the availability of signals and networks on their regions.
It's for this reasons that the Ministry of Education decided to introduce community-based learning to save over ten million public school learners whose schools are not in the position of proving online education as compared to the majority of private schools in the country.
Teachers Service Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has made a set of rules and guidelines that will guide teachers as they conduct learning in villages. The first guideline is to ensure that all classrooms accommodate a maximum of 15 learners.
Learning is scheduled for a maximum of 4 hours a day from Mondays to Fridays. Teachers are expected to register with their local officials from the ministry of education who will be in charge of facilitating face-to-face learning in the coming community based learning. (Nyumba Kumi Initiative)
Learning is anticipated to be conducted in open grounds and halls. The minimum Coronavirus precaution measures must be conducted according to the Ministry of Education guidelines. Life skills teachings such as hygiene, tree planting among others will be taught.
Psychological assistance, guidance and counselling will be among the lessons taught as contained in the code of teachers regulation. Other learning subjects of interest will be allowed in order to engage learners before the resumption of studies in 2021. Some activities may be conducted online.
This is expected to lessen cases of drug abuse and earlier pregnancies among students as it eases the load carried by parents on regular basis. Time lost in covering the syllabus will be recovered a little as learners will be categorised in terms of age and classes. Learning will be offered at no cost.
Tutors will be allowed to grade their learners as they engage in group work and peer to peer learning. Decentralized monitoring and supervision of this program will be conducted at zonal, county and sub-county levels according to the community-based learning guidelines.
Teachers familiarisation on learners engagement will be conducted as the regional, sub-county and county Directors monitor and assess the involvement and participation of teachers. The Ministry will ensure that learning takes place in every village and that all learners participate.
Teachers who will take part in this curriculum must be registered at the sub-county by the education directors and curriculum officers at their area of locality or residency as commuting to teach in other areas won't be allowed.
The teachers will be in charge of observing the status and progression of their learners and give the details to the support officers in their allocated areas of learning. Use of computerised medium of information such as radio, telephones, computers, laptops and television will be allowed during their learning lessons
However, teachers are warned to be fully aware of the digital notches such as poor networks and poverty levels that may affect teaching from home situations. Teachers Service Commission guidelines require educators to use local materials and resources and make follow-ups with parents and students.
BOM TEACHERS UPDATES ON SALARY PAYMENTS
Ministry of education through permanent secretary Dr Belio Kipsang has asked principals to give exact figures of teachers employed by the Board of Management. The name of Learning institution and the registration numbers of all BOM teachers should be clearly indicated before presentation.
In a circular released on 10th August, Kipsang notified county education directors to present the exact number of BoM teachers in all learning institutions that were employed before school closure on March, 2020. All information should reach his office not later than 12th of August 2020.
It is rumored that the Education Ministry reversed funds meant to pay Bom teachers and non teaching staffs due to lack of knowledge of the number of teachers employed by BOM. However the statement above is yet to be confirmed. Bom teachers have not received their salaries since schools were closed.
