As the government introduces German language to learning institutions in Kenya; the only challenge is teachers.
The language despite being taught in Kenya for many years, it has never had enough tutors.
Mrs. Grace Munene German, a teacher at the Baricho Boys High school in Kirinyaga County said her journey started when she was a student at the Kenyatta University.
Being a Language and Arts student then, a lecturer selected her and several others to take German language, a thing that didn’t go well with her; but today it was a God sent opportunity.
After graduating she was posted at a day school before being getting a transfer to Baricho High where her dream started to shine when the principal approached her to teach language in 2017.
In 2020 her first students got an A of 10.5 meanscore that gave her the confidence to take on the subject to other classes. Having started with 8 the number grew to 16 last year either a mean score of 11.65(10 A, 4A (minus) and 1 B (plus) in 2023: the institution offers to B1 level.
The advantage is that the learners have been able to interact with over 150 other schools taking German language.
“I have been able to teach students who I know have sought scholarships in German and have been granted the chance to study there, also I know several others who are taking the levels to B2 level” she added.
She mentioned that the language is unique because it is primarily spoken, so in-house training is required.
Having not taught for long, she had to start practicing so as to remind herself and keep herself abreast incase the curriculum has changed.
At the Jeremiah Nyaga National polytechnic, First students who enroll for the language will be sponsored by the county government of Embu.
Esther Njoroge, a lecturer at the institution, mentioned that the language program began last November with seven students. Since then, the number of participants has grown to 20, with a total of 100 students now registered for the course.
“Jeremiah Nyaga started German language last November after the president sourced jobs in Germany, we started with 7 trainees, the number grew after the first graduation and now we have 100 who have shown interest in learning the languages” said Ms. Njoroge.
She attests that despite the growing number of learners, tutors for the language are not enough; many study the language and seek jobs abroad.
“Most Kenyans who have done German do not want to work in Kenya, they prefer working abroad” she added.
In secondary schools, Karoti, Kerugoya boys joins other big schools in Kenya offering German language.
Goethe institute is the institution responsible for German training.
There has been an exchange programme called Limbua Africa between students from German and within the school.
“We have an exchange programme Limbua where students from German visit our school for about two weeks to learn and also interact” she added.
She mentioned that as the number of trainees increases, Kenya will allocate additional teachers to address the gap.
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