By Maureen Shelmith Wangari – Digital Strategy Officer

Dignitas, through various school partnership programs within marginalized communities, empowers teachers or instructional leaders in providing continuous professional development which focuses on classroom culture, learner engagement, and instructional leadership. 

In Kenya, non-formal schools play a critical role in expanding access to education among marginalized communities, complementing the government’s Vision 2030 strategy. In a recent report by the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, (https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en)  350 million children globally are educated by non-state actors. 

Part of the Kenyan Government Vision 2030 strategy includes the establishment and operationalization of the National Council on Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) “in order to promote access, retention and quality education for nomadic communities.”

This year, complementing the government efforts, Dignitas has been endeavored to scale and reach a bigger audience; leveraging on the online learning management platform, LeadNow, and the online coaching tool. There has been a huge shift in how most teachers have incorporated the learning elements by shifting their classroom-based practice.

In addition, Dignitas strives to ensure that teachers in our partner schools are empowered to be able to support learners within their school setup. A highlight into the scope of teachers we support is based in informal settlement. We conduct an initial digital literacy test to most of the teachers to establish their capability and level of technical support required to learn on LeadNow.

A glimpse at one of our partner schools

“I would like to thank God for this far He has brought us through Dignitas for the training we have acquired to better our school fraternity. Thanks to the able coaches for the wonderful job done”

Teacher Joseph of Bright Bridgeson Learning Academy.

Tr. Joseph showcases how he has now been able to use the training materials acquired from the online learning platform; LeadNow, to change how he conducts business. A turning point for him is the School Financial Management module – which shows school leaders how to incentivize parents and formulate innovative ways to collect school fees. 

“Normally, we had a blanket kind of way of collecting school fees, now through such modules, I have been able to create various strategies to generate income and ensure most learners are in school and provide the right kind of learning support”. 

Incorporation of Various Learning Strategies

In appreciation of access to digital learning materials and how it has enabled improve their classroom culture, Hellen Akinyi Onyango of Helma Excellence Education Centre, attests how she has seen a huge improvement in learner engagement from the knowledge attained from LeadNow platform. 

“I have been an avid user of the online platform LeadNow, I have benefited from the materials such as development and maintain of professional records to support my lessons like lesson planning (ama mpangilio wa vipindi), schemes of work” She continues, “One good aspect, I have experienced and translated in my classrooms is the content on Reflective Practise and differentiated instruction– this is quite beneficial, I have used the same ideas and translated within a classroom context to support my students in development of their goal setting and lesson expectations, learning through play by use of the Lego resources and most importantly support various types of learner – visual, auditory and Kinesthetic learners”.

Helma Excellence Education Centre has adopted various learner engagement strategies; structuring a class discussion to make it more engaging, more organized, more equitable, and more academically challenging. As an institution they have managed to find effective ways to develop students’ speaking and listening skills with strategies such as Gallery Walks, Think-Pair-Share, Turn and Talk. Incorporation of various learning styles in the classroom, students can grow in self-awareness, as well as in their problem-solving skills.

“We have gained a lot especially with in-person coaching which complements the training and knowledge acquired from the LMS platform – Dignitas you’re just too good!”

Ms. Akinyi of Helma Excellence Education Centre