The Ministry of Education (MoE) has called on teachers and trainers to embrace learner-driven performances at this year’s Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, urging schools to allow students to write and stage their own scripts. The directive is part of a broader effort to nurture talent and position the arts as a viable career pathway under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
Nairobi Regional Director of Education Reuben Kipturgor, speaking at Dagoretti High School during the Nairobi regional festival, emphasized that overreliance on professionally written scripts denies learners the chance to explore and sharpen their creativity. He noted that the government’s vision is to make the festival a platform not only for showcasing talent but also for actively developing it.
“When professionals write most scripts, we limit opportunities to discover and develop learners’ own creative abilities. Learners should not be confined to performing pre-written scripts; they should be given the chance to create,” Kipturgor said. Delivering remarks on behalf of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, he added that if students can excel in creative compositions, they are equally capable of becoming strong playwrights.
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The Ministry believes that shifting the festival to a learner-centred model will allow students to express their ideas more freely. At the same time, teachers play a guiding role in refining the work to professional standards. “In doing so, we move beyond showcasing talent to actively developing it, unlocking learners’ full creative potential,” Kipturgor explained.
This year’s festival carries the theme “Bold Storytellers, Digital Stages: Driving Kenya’s Development Through Theatre and Film.” Organizers say the theme reflects the growing importance of arts in shaping national identity and contributing to socio-economic growth.
The festival, which has long been a showcase of Kenya’s cultural and creative diversity, is now being repositioned as a training ground for future arts professionals. Teachers and trainers are expected to adapt to this shift, ensuring that learners are not just performers but creators whose voices and ideas drive the productions.
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Kipturgor urged schools to embrace the change, stressing that the success of the festival depends on empowering learners to take centre stage in shaping their own narratives.
By Masaki Enock
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