Where pupils mark their work

By Phares Mutembei

A new education system that heavily draws from Christianity is gaining popularity.

In the unique system Christian teaching is at the core of the curriculum, students are responsible for the pace of learning, and they do not sit end of year and national examinations.

"The curriculum is underpinned by Biblical principles and for one to join the schools they must acknowledge the values, says the Mikisa Christian Academy Director Hellen Maleche.

As times change education is becoming more diverse and the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) is one of the latest system promising to meet today’s needs.

So far, 16 schools in various parts of the country offer the curriculum to about 700 students.

Situated near Bomas of Kenya Mikisa is one of the schools that offer the ACE. Learners dictate the pace at which they cover the syllabus, a departure from the 8.4.4 system where students tackle the syllabus at breakneck speed.

"The ACE is designed to meet individual student learning needs and abilities. We do not put them under any pressure and the responsibility of the teacher is reduced to guiding the students in the classroom," says Maleche.

After a diagnostic test students are placed in a programme based on their performance. The learners set specific goals allowing them to move at a pace equal to their abilities.

The rationale behind the system is that it is of no good use to take a fast and slow learner at the same pace as this interferes with the progress of both.

At the end of the term students do not sit a final examination.

"We rank students using the continuous assessment tests they do throughout the term," says Maleche. This way, the student’s success is not hinged on one final examination. The continuous assessments serve the dual purpose of identifying the student’s weaknesses and their grasp of the lessons covered.

"The key is to keep on improving," says Maleche. The maximum number of students per class is 25 and at the end of Standard Eight results are based on the year’s grade point average, GPA.

At the end of the semester, a parent-teacher-student conference discusses the child’s development in various subjects. This interaction between parents and teachers allows both parties to exchange notes about the student’s performance at home and school.

The curriculum stresses the acceptance and use of God’s point of view to guide individual and communities. In lower classes pupils mark their own work at a secluded Score Station.

Score station

"At the score station the pupils do a self—evaluation without supervision. allowing them to build integrity and honesty," Maleche says. The teachers just check and explain the work to the pupil.

Founded by an American, Donald Howard and his wife Esther, the ACE system is offered in schools around the world.