Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called on schools in the country to embrace diversity of talents in order to widen the scope that students are tested and ranked in national examinations.
Saying there has been too narrow focus on academics, the PM expressed concern that the education system in the country has not sufficiently valued and nurtured non-academic talents in students.
He supported the proposal that music, art and craft and home science be re-introduced at primary schools and asked the Task Force of the Ministry of Education reviewing the Education curriculum in the country to address the issue as a matter of highest priority.
Raila was speaking today at an interactive education forum with students from among schools and Universities in the country at Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta. The open forum was organized by his office.
He said, “Students should not be ranked by test scores alone. Not every child can be a genius in mathematics. But every child has a talent, if not in mathematics then in something else.”
The PM said it was prudent to start nurturing scientific minds when children are still very young, noting science and technology is the key to catch up with and leap frog the developed countries.
Raila at the same time asked schools to come up with strong programmes to support children who have fallen behind in performance, saying remedial education should be a permanent feature in schools.
The PM also supported the proposal to introduce a Conditional Cash Transfer, targeted strictly to families that are in need of help and are committed to sending their children to school.
He noted that cash transfer would help parents to pay for uniforms, school feeding and other financial needs on condition that their children continue to go to school.
“Cash transfer can also help prevent children from being sent out to work or from being married off to earn some money for their families,” he added.
Once again he appealed to the business community to invest in education saying they should offer more internships and scholarships as well as partnerships with vocational schools and universities as part of their social responsibility.
On the health of school children, Raila directed the Ministries of Public health and Education to expand school based health initiatives across all levels of education noting that de-worming, micro nutrient and other school based health initiatives should be expanded in schools.
Saying there has been too narrow focus on academics, the PM expressed concern that the education system in the country has not sufficiently valued and nurtured non-academic talents in students.
He supported the proposal that music, art and craft and home science be re-introduced at primary schools and asked the Task Force of the Ministry of Education reviewing the Education curriculum in the country to address the issue as a matter of highest priority.
Raila was speaking today at an interactive education forum with students from among schools and Universities in the country at Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta. The open forum was organized by his office.
He said, “Students should not be ranked by test scores alone. Not every child can be a genius in mathematics. But every child has a talent, if not in mathematics then in something else.”
The PM said it was prudent to start nurturing scientific minds when children are still very young, noting science and technology is the key to catch up with and leap frog the developed countries.
Raila at the same time asked schools to come up with strong programmes to support children who have fallen behind in performance, saying remedial education should be a permanent feature in schools.
The PM also supported the proposal to introduce a Conditional Cash Transfer, targeted strictly to families that are in need of help and are committed to sending their children to school.
He noted that cash transfer would help parents to pay for uniforms, school feeding and other financial needs on condition that their children continue to go to school.
“Cash transfer can also help prevent children from being sent out to work or from being married off to earn some money for their families,” he added.
Once again he appealed to the business community to invest in education saying they should offer more internships and scholarships as well as partnerships with vocational schools and universities as part of their social responsibility.
On the health of school children, Raila directed the Ministries of Public health and Education to expand school based health initiatives across all levels of education noting that de-worming, micro nutrient and other school based health initiatives should be expanded in schools.
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