COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING MAY HIT A SNAG DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS

COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING MAY HIT A SNAG DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS

Community-based learning may take a while to be fully implemented owing to the rigorous steps involved.

Besides, there are a number of stakeholders who have to take part in one way or another to ensure its success. These include parliament, health, TSC, ministry of interior, and education.

THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING

To start with, parliament has to validate the community-based learning guidelines released by the Teachers Service Commission this month before they are implemented.

Speaking in Eldoret, education CS professor George Magoha said the program is yet to receive a nod from parliament and key players such as teachers’ unions.

A meeting shall be convened between education officials and the legislators to take the members through the guidelines and approve the program.

Secondly, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, KICD is expected to come up with a teaching guide, which teachers will follow during the process of implementing CBL. This will ensure no learner is disadvantaged by virtue of where they are.

Thirdly, teachers, and education officials who will take part in the program will undergo training.

Upon registration of teachers, the education ministry through the Teachers Service Commission is expected to assign teachers classes with a maximum of 15 learners.

Chiefs and assistants should also identify appropriate venues for learning.

TSC GUIDELINES ON COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING

In case, you have not gone through the TSC guidelines on community-based learning, you can have a quick glimpse below:

Role of Teachers in Community Based Learning (Nyumba Kumi Learning)
Teachers will play a pivotal role to ensure the success of the program.  In this respect, teachers will be expected to carry out the following activities:

Heads of institutions should be in school at least once per week to supervise and monitor the program.

Utilize the Nyumba Kumi program to ensure that all learners participate in the program.

Set up a face to face program of engaging not more than 15 learners while strictly observing the Ministry of Health Guidelines and protocols. This engagement should be at least 4 hours a day at no charge.

Organize the learners as much as possible according to their classes and/or age groups to ensure that the topics under discussion are relevant, suitable, and appropriate to the group.

Sensitize and educate the learners on the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health towards the containment of the Covid–19 pandemic.

Identify in consultation with the officials from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Interior, suitable places like community halls or open spaces where a conducive environment may be created to enable learning to take place within the community. Such places should be well arranged in strict adherence to the Guidelines and Protocols issued by the Ministry of Health.

Develop a daily activity-based program for engaging learners on life skills and values such as weeding, cultivating, grazing animals, storytelling, planting, debating life issues, hygiene, and other related activities.

Provide learning activities in reading and numeracy and other subjects of interest to learners to keep them engaged.

Develop task-based activities for learners to undertake during the session or while with their parents at home.

Utilize available radio, television, and online content within the reach of children to make learning interactive.

Assign reading and exercises to learners for home study.

Conduct remote daily or weekly follow up with students and parents.

Utilize local resources during the learners‘engagement.

Offer guidance and counseling and psychosocial support to learners.
Monitor the progress and the status of learners and provide information to Curriculum Support officers.

Note: The Code of Regulations for teachers and Code of conduct and Ethics for Teachers shall prevail.