Standard Group, education stakeholders conduct debate on Status of Education

Secretary General of Knut Wilson Sossion (C) gives contribution at the Transform Kenya forum in Strathmore University. [Photo: Killiad Msafiri/Standard]

The Standard Group has partnered with stakeholders from the Education Sector to steer a debate on the Kenya’s basic education under the program Transform Kenyan now live at Strathmore University, Nairobi.

Some of the stakeholders include the Ministry of Education, Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and Strathmore Business School.

KTN's Sharon Momanyi and Frank Otieno are hosting the event as Kenyans discuss what is required in the country’s basic education.

Panelists at the Transform Kenya forum ongoing at Strathmore University. [Killiad Msafiri/Standard]

Panelists include Lawrence Njagi from the Publisher Association, Jackline Onyangi, the Deputy Director of KICD , Sara Githinji the Vice Chair of Parents Association, Stephen Njoroge of CEMASTEA, Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion, and Jonathan Mosaya who is Education and Development Expert.

While responding to the concern raised on chronic teachers strike in the country, Knut boss Wilson Sossion has defended teachers’ strike saying that the end of such strikes will never come. He says that many Kenyan civil servants have reaped the fruits of such struggles coming forms such as maternity leaves.

Sossion also said that quality education can only be achieved through quality teachers.

“You cannot expect quality education if you are not paying teachers well,” he said.

Mr Stephen Njoroge from CEMASTEA said that the country needs to ensure capacity building on STEM strategy, to help children keep pace with the changing trends.

"I would not be better person today if I did not get a good teaching," he said.

Parents Association Vice Chair has spoken expansively about the teenage pregnancies. She has called on law enforcers to conduct proper investigations and parents to be vigilant of their children to mitigate the vice.

Transform Kenya aims to influence new ways of doing things by according as many Kenyans as possible the opportunity to contribute to the debate on national development.

It is the fourth edition of the Transform Kenya campaign after the first one on June 5, 2018 in Kwale County, focusing on environment. The second edition was held on September 6, 2018 at Strathmore, Nairobi. The third edition took place on October 25, 2018 at the Strathmore Business School.

The Standard Group amplifies these conversations on print, radio, TV and online platforms to spur national conversation across a wide range of selected topics.

Managing Editor of KTN Joe Munene gives opening speech at the Forum. [Killiad Msafiri/Standard]

Using the hashtag #TransformKenyaSG, the forum is live on KTN NEWS from 6 to 9pm and is highly interactive as the moderator fields questions to panelists from both audience and social media engagements.

Additional reporting Timothy Makokha