Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) recently launched a diploma programme in Guidance and Counseling, the second high flying diploma training programme the institute is rolling out to teachers towards improvement of learning outcomes in institutions of learning.
The first programme, Education Leadership and Management, was launched in January 2011 by the then Minister of Education, Science and Technology Prof. Sam Ongeri.
Speaking to Education News, the Chief Executive Officer Dr. Maurice Odondo said the new programme targets aspiring counsellors in schools, school administrators, education officers and teachers providing guidance and counselling services in schools.
Other groups targeted include; teachers or education officers who are looking forward to offering Guidance and Counselling services after retirement.
He added that the new programme will be offered through a blended approach (online and face – to- face) in all the 47 counties.
“The programme is modular and has an examination and a supervised practicum,” he added.
The CEO revealed that through the course, the institute is retooling guidance and counselling teachers in schools so as to upscale teachers’ competencies and skills as they handle challenges amongst learners.
He added that guidance and counseling will play a key role in the implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Since its inception, KEMI has been undertaking short term training programmes in Guidance and Counselling, Institutional and Instructional Leadership, Financial Management, Public Procurement and Education for Sustainable Development among others.
The institute has taken a keen interest in the Institutional Leadership and Governance of Boards of Management (BoMs) in secondary schools.
To this end, the institute has effectively spearheaded capacity building of newly inaugurated BoMs for secondary schools in Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Kericho, Siaya, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Samburu, Laikipia, Vihiga, Kisumu, Bomet and Kajiado counties.
The institute targets to train all the secondary schools BoMs countrywide by September this year.
The CEO noted that the trainings will be undertaken at sub county levels and KEMI is looking forward to working with the Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) and respective County Directors of Education in rolling out the programme.
“We are also currently developing a leadership training programme for the chief principals of teacher training colleges in the country, a move that will support the school leaders in the transformation agenda occasioned by curriculum reforms,” said Dr. Odondo.
Wycliffe Wasike, the Deputy Director in charge of Management Development at KEMI, said the Institute has rolled out Phase 10 of diploma in Education Leadership and Management and a host of other short courses.
“We are currently training the third cohort of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme. All these programmes aim at improving skills and competencies of school leaders and teachers,” stated Wasike.
Wasike disclosed that the institute has also leveraged on partnerships with various local and international agencies in developing and strengthening capacities of educators in leadership and management.
“We’re partnering with Aga Khan University- Dar es Salaam to promote education leadership in targeted counties at the Coast beginning with Mombasa and Kilifi,” said Wasike.
He noted that the Institute is also partnering with a Belgium organization known as Flemmish Association for Development Co-operation and Technical Assistance (VVOB – Education for Development) under a programme called Implementing National Curriculum Reforms through App- based Learning for School Leaders in Secondary Education (INCREASE). The partnership is geared towards capacity development of education leaders in the JSSs.
“We’re also partnering with DIGNITAS in a programme known as ‘Coaching at Scale’ which focuses on developing and delivering a training programme as well as coaching and mentoring teachers,” added Wasike.
He further noted that the institute is partnering with African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) to jointly promote the integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in school programmes.
Grace Gatundu, who is in charge of Partnerships and Curriculum at KEMI, said the institute is positioning the new programme to support psychosocial needs of the learners and the school community.
“Self – awareness is important for teachers aspiring to enroll for this new programme for they have to understand themselves first before they can understand and assist learners. KEMI will now provide recognized certification for Guidance and Counselling practitioners in our schools,” confirmed Gatundu.
She revealed that the Ministry of Education has released a new policy on guidance and counselling and that the institute is now set to disseminate and operationalize it in schools countrywide.
By Tindi Kuchio
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