Diploma graduate teachers have been challenged to continue having a desire to advance in their education to the highest levels.
Speaking when he graced the graduation ceremony at the Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director Professor Charles Ochieng’ Ong’ondo asked teachers to always aspire to climb higher professionally.
He advised the granduants to continue learning and discover the use of modern technology to adopt and adapt to the new teaching skills and also those with interest in other field to pursue their dreams.
“Your qualification today should also lead you to have a desire to advance in your education, don’t make a comfort zone in the first school you will be employed in, you are still young and you can grow and become anything you want to be after we have given you the powers as a teacher. After five years when I meet you and ask you who you are and you tell me you are still a diploma teacher, I will be very much disappointed,” said Ong’ondo.
The Director also challenged parents and guardians present witnessing their children graduating not stop supporting their children who would wish to advance to the next level of education.
He advised the granduants to always observe professional code of conduct and perform their duties in a well-organized manner and be role models that can be emulated by the learners and the community at large.
“I want to remind you that learners will learn more by observing the way you carry yourself around, please go out there and be a good role model for them to emulate, let them learn from you the core living values of love, respect, responsibility, accountability and transparency so that they see a teacher who is responsible,” said the Director.
On the new Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) the Director said the curriculum is fully developed to match with necessary requirements needed in the job market together with solving challenges facing the 21st Century.
He said that research was done while comparing the Kenyan education system with the rest of the world and it was discovered that 8.4.4 did not have competencies to solve challenges facing the world today.
According to him, Kenya was the only country in the world which kept children in primary school for eight years while not providing pathways early enough displayed by the learners.
Ong’ondo said Junior Secondary School will offer a broad-based approach where children in ages 14-15 can associate themselves in areas where their interests are found.
He noted that challenges facing CBC at the moment are not about the content but only some logistics and how to make it affordable to parents.
“CBC has communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving, learning to learn, creativity, citizenship and digital literacy,” Ong’ondo said while emphasizing that the mentioned areas are the basis for solving 21st century challenges.
Lugari DTTC Principal Ann Esese, thanked the government for its continued financial support to the college which has modern infrastructure.
Esese noted that the college will continue tailoring its training to match with the current curriculum with more emphasis on digital literacy which is key in the 21st Century.
She also thanked the Ministry of Education for allowing the college to be the only one offering Home Science, Wood Technology and Electrical Technology courses.
“We know right now out there it is really impossible to get Home Science teachers, so we are proud that the Ministry through KICD has allowed us to be the school to train teachers in Home Science,” said Mrs. Esese.
