Education: Inquiry based learning taking hold in Kenyan schools

Physics teachers from Taita Taveta Counties share practical lab experience (PHOTO: Dan Orero)

NAIROBI, KENYA: A skills and facility sharing training program run by the Nairobi based Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technical Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) is proving a boon as teachers in less endowed secondary schools get inspired and students effervesced in the process.

Teachers who have been through the program say interaction with counterparts from bigger, better enabled  schools leaves a positive impact on their personality that trickles down to their students in the form of improved performance in mathematics, science and technology subjects.

 “We who are trained in turn train our colleagues left behind with the end result that the entire teaching staff gets a new lease of life,” remarked Ms Fatuma Mwamurieni, a biology teacher at Mwamugunga Secondary School in Kwale County who recently attended a five day Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) training at Matuga Girls’ High School.

A Chemistry teacher from Bunguni Secondary School also in Kwale County Mr Sammy Nyiro described himself as rejuvenated after the training. “I have rubbed shoulders and shared knowledge with colleagues from schools that eclipse us in performance. I have learnt their tricks that I will carry to my school,” said Nyiro, confidence splashed all over his face.

Kwale County Trainer Representative Ms Scholastica Mbaa said all the 38 schools that participated had something fresh for their teachers and students.

Lamu County where some schools sit on remote islands benefitted immensely going by sentiments from participants such as Chemistry teacher Dukwe Sammi Thomas from Moa Mixed Secondary school in Witu Sub County. He said the program injected new teaching life in teachers who had grown lethargic pout of isolationism.

Wellington Wasike who teaches mathematics at Mkunumbi Secondary School said he had garnered a lot to have his students compete effectively with counterparts in better equipped schools. 15 schools took part in the training at Lamu Girls Secondary school.

At Voi Boys Secondary School where 45 mathematics, science and technical teachers from 26 secondary schools in Taita Taveta County gathered for a similar training exercise, physics teacher Mr Jimmy Mwakesi from Mbololo secondary School was upbeat that his one stream school  would for the first time pull off grade C+ and above in the subject courtesy of the training.

“Lack of enough facilities notwithstanding, the confidence and inspiration gleaned will work wonders” she effused.

Talu Janet, a biology trainer from Mahoo Girls’ High School was upbeat that the experience gained would refurbish the subject in all the 26 schools that participated

A total of 166 mathematics, science and technology teachers drawn from secondary schools in Kwale, Taita Taveta and Lamu Counties in the Coast region underwent a five day training on Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) in the latest such effort that has seen select teachers from various regions undergo short in service education training (INSET) to equip them with skills that they in turn pass to others in their schools. IBL is an open minded approach anchored on questions, research and curiosity on the part of students as opposed to cramming.

The program that according to education pundits enhances effective learner involvement saw teachers from schools with varying infrastructural and other endowments share everything from instruments to ideas and skills with a view to enriching their confidence and improving their teaching approach to the subjects.

Participants came to terms with the fact that memorizing facts and information is not the most important skill in today's world because facts change and information is readily available -- what's needed is an understanding of how to get and make sense of availed information..

The training held at Matuga Girls’ Secondary School, Voi Boys’ Secondary School and Lamu Girls’ High School fell under the realm of Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) project that addresses the quality of teachers in terms of attitude, pedagogy, and mastery of content, resource mobilisation and utilisation of locally available teaching materials.

Teachers were made to understand that schools need to go beyond data and information accumulation and move toward the generation of useful and applicable knowledge for their students.

Facilitators noted that SMASE and IBL had resulted in more girls taking up science subjects and excelling alongside their male counterparts after the teaching of the subjects became interesting and roused excitement in learners. They cited practicals as an area where results had improved with IBL.

It was observed that girls in particular had gradually been getting interested in doing well in mathematics and science subjects since the advent of IBL and its positive impact on the attitude of teachers and by extension, their students.

The nurturing of inquiring attitudes or habits of mind was cited as important to enable individuals continue with the quest for knowledge throughout their lives.

A national trainer from CEMASTEA Mr Jacob Amimo said besides improved performance by teachers and students, the benefits of IBL included the nurturing of student passion and talents, solving the problems of tomorrow in today’s classrooms, enabling students take ownership of their own learning to reach their goals, deepening understanding beyond memorizing facts and content and fortifying the importance of answering questions.

“Besides, the approach makes research more meaningful while fostering curiosity and a love of learning. It is an open ended line to learning guided by students through questions to their teachers,” he explained.

He said for the project to flourish in schools, head teachers must be role models by blending their administrative chores with teaching to be seen to be leading by example. You have no firm ground to talk about performance If you do not teach,” Mr Amimo admonished head teachers.

Kwale County Director of Education Mr Geoffrey Chemos described the project as godsend for regions that had straggled on the education front for historical reasons.

“We have seen a big leap in mathematics, science and technology that previously had negligible presence in our part of the world,” said Mr Chemos during official closing of the training at Matuga Girl’s High School.