Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was honored for his efforts in transforming education through his advocacy and commitment to Competency-Based Curriculum at the 2022 Transforming Education Summit, “Role of Stakeholders in Transforming Education for the Future,” in Nairobi on July 27, 2022.
The summit, an annual roundup of Transforming Education forums and workshops, brings together education stakeholders to explore education trends and share best practices to improve the quality of learning in Kenyan schools. The summit engages education partners across multiple sectors and provides guidance and support to integrate ethics and workplace skills into secondary and tertiary education—to raise up the character, creativity, and leadership skills of students as well as educators.
Participants at the Kenya education and awards summit.
The 2022 Transforming Education Summit is a signature program of Global Peace Foundation Kenya in partnership with the Kenya Ministry of Education, Standard Group PLC, SKY Girls Kenya, Oracle, World Vision Kenya, eMobilis Mobile Technology Institute, UNESCO, Plan International, Academy and other supporters. The summit is designed both to support education innovation to prepare youth for success in the workplace and as citizens and to apply formal education as a tool for peacebuilding.
The summit engaged distinguished panelists in six sessions, which included:
- Policy Frameworks and Curriculum Development
- Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Aiding Education Transformation
- Use of Technology in Aligning E-Learning Implementation
- Trends and the Future of Learning and Workforce
- Prevention of Election Violence through Peace Education
- Accessibility and Inclusion in Education
Addressing the summit, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Vice President for Education Dr. Tony Devine highlighted different GPF initiatives, including Character and Creativity, Great Places to School, Leap Hubs and Transforming Education Series, to ensure that education globally matches the demands for twenty-first century skills and competencies.
Global Peace Foundation Kenya Executive Director Mr. Daniel Juma Omondi stressed the need for stakeholders from different organizations to work together in realizing education that not only solves problems but also focuses on the future of the learners and emerging world trends. “Education is the most crucial sector that the world needs to focus on [for] building a strong social-economic wellbeing of different countries,” Juma said.
Dr. Julius Jwan, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education at the Ministry of Education (represented by Ms. Evelyne Ooko, Education Officer, Ministry of Education), affirmed that the government of Kenya “is committed to ensuring access to inclusive and equitable quality education and training as well as promoting life learning opportunities for all.”
Use of technology in education dominated discussions, with calls for learning institutions especially at the tertiary level to use latest innovative and technology-based platforms to simplify learning processes. Mr. Danny Gooris, Director of Oracle Academy EMEA, explained the significance of using Oracle Academy’s cloud program by educators and learners to improve learning practices. Oracle Academy works with institutions, educators, and partners around the world to help students become technology innovators and leaders. Gorris said Oracle Academy is making an impact in Kenyan tertiary institutions through trainings in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Kenya.
Awards presentation at the Kenya education summit
Speakers also addressed the major concern of how to offer equal opportunity to all learners irrespective of social economic background. Despite efforts to ensure equal access to education in the country, major disparities remain due to poverty, insecurity, infrastructure limitations, and unfavorable cultural norms.
In addition to recognition of President Kenyatta, the summit conferred awards to Education ministers Prof. George Albert Omore Magoha and Dr. Julius Jwan for their bold efforts in transforming education in Kenya through “100 percent Transition from Primary to Secondary Schools” and the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum. Other institutions recognized for their efforts in transforming education included the Standard Group PLC, World Vision Kenya, SKY Girls Kenya, Oracle Academy, Plan International, Usawa Agenda, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Moringa School.
Learn more about our peacebuilding work in Kenya and other Transforming Education initiatives.
