By Benedict Ng’etich
The James Finlay (Kenya) Limited tea company is ready for the roll out of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and has already prepared state-of- the-art classrooms for the same.
The Human Resources Director Daniel Kirui disclosed that the company was ready to welcome students for the CBC programmes, who will be transiting to Junior Secondary from primary school.
“The company has enough facilities in the form of classrooms to accommodate pupils who will be transiting from Grade 6 to Grade 7. The classrooms are very stylish and will suit our pupils well,“ he added.
The director, who was flanked by the manager for Diversity and Inclusion (in charge of schools within Finlay) Mrs. Janet Ruto, however, said the only challenge they faced was the posting of teachers to the facilities. She revealed that they had initiated communication with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to have teachers posted there.
He promised teachers posted to schools within the multinational tea company ample housing.
“As a company, James Finlay’s Kenya (JFK) is ready for the implementation of the CBC programme. What we lack are the teachers to man our modern facilities. We want to welcome teachers who will be posted here and we are ready to provide them with very good and comfortable houses, “he added.
He was speaking during a prize-giving day held at the AHP Primary School where top performing teachers and pupils were rewarded.
Mr. Kirui passionately requested head teachers of the facilities, some of which were used when the flower companies were still operational, to take extra care of them for the current learners and for future generations.
The chief guest during the function Grace Mwangi, who is the Kericho County TSC Director, said the Commission will post enough teachers who were already trained on the CBC programme. She assured the company that the teacher employer will assist them, adding that the TSC was impressed by the promise of the Finlay’s Company to treat the teachers well.
She urged teachers to embrace the CBC model, reminding them they should modernize their teaching notes to adapt to modern technology,
“You cannot continue teaching today’s pupils’ using last century’s techniques. You will be outdated if you don’t adapt to change, “she said.
Schools within the Company include AHP workshop, Saosa, Changana, Kipketer, Kapsongoi, Kitumbe, Tilwet, Saramek, Marinyin, Tenduet, Chemasingi and Cheptabes.
Overall, the mean score of the James Finlay Kenya Limited primary schools went up by 11.75 points to 291.98.
AHP Primary school has been ranked the best overall four years in a row on JFK rankings and first in Chaik Zone of Belgut Sub-county. Schools within the company took the first six positions in Chaik zone. Saosa Primary School registered a mean of 327.22, marks which is their highest in 10 years.
