Education experts and scholars want country’s education system re-organized

Supreme Court judge Justice Njoki Ndung’u and Ashleys CEO Terry Mungai during a dinner in honour of Ahadi Kenya Trust Director Stanley Kamau by International Centre for Innovation in Education in Nairobi on Wednesday. INSET: Kamau makes a speech after he was presented an award in appreciation of his services to the poor. [PHOTOS: DAVID GICHURU/STANDARD]

Kenya: Education experts and scholars want the country’s education system re-organised so talented and gifted children are nurtured instead of being condemned as academic failures.

The calls were made during a celebration of the appointment of one of Kenya’s champions for the rights of children, Stanley Kamau, as East and Central Africa’s ambassador for seeking gifted and talented children.

According to International Centre for Innovation in Education (ICIE) president Taisir Yamin, education in Africa has been reduced to routine cramming of teachers’ notes to pass examinations and get certificates.

TALENT ENVOY

It is against this background that Ahadi Trust Executive Director Dr Kamau was appointed to the position of talent envoy for East and Central Africa so that gifted and talented children could be financially and professionally supported by experts.

Kamau has made a name in Kenya and beyond for popularising the anti-jigger campaign.

ICIE, which is based in the US, said Kamau was chosen because he had made significant contributions to the welfare of the poor.

According to ICIE’s US representative, Trevor Tebbs, Kamau will be expected to go all over East and Central Africa looking for gifted and talented children.

The award was presented to the anti-jigger crusader during a dinner at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday evening.

Kamau said he was humbled by the recognition and dedicated the award to Ahadi Kenya’s partners, volunteers and social workers.