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Tag: kenya

  • New Education System: Competence over Competition

    By Aaron Kituku.
    (kaykituku@gmail.com)

    A weekend at home gave me a glimpse of what the competency-based curriculum (CBC) is all about. If skill-set is the focus of this shift in academia, then this is a blessing in disguise.

    Pupils from Rock school in Nairobi were cleaning the streets with improvised brooms, aprons, and wheelbarrows on September 5th during a class project in the new curriculum. Apart from the adorable scene of these children sweeping, the direction the new system is taking is impressive.

    The 2-6-6-3 curriculum is replacing the old, exam-oriented system, 8-4-4, which was adopted in 1985. Contrary to the traditional education system, the competency-based curriculum advocates for a progressive assessment rather than a single event of an exam, which, whether a student passes or fails, the class will move forward through to new material and assume that students will figure out concepts as the study progresses.

    As some might argue that CBC is not encouraging competition, well that’s the idea; it is mastery or proficiency-based kind of learning.

    Opposed to studying piles of notes before an exam regardless of whether you understand or not, the new system emphasizes on whether or not a student is demonstrating well-defined competencies. That is knowledge applied. That is true learning.

    Just 2 years ago I was helping my brother do his homework in math’s, science and the like, this weekend was different. Shaping a car model from a box, curving out windows and doors was his take-home. It was fun, physically engaging and a provoked creativity. At grade 2, the child is already introduced to basic literacy and numeracy skills, appropriated communication, creativity and critical thinking, hygiene, digital literacy skills, emotional, physical and spiritual development among others.

    This is not just an improvement of the 8-4-4 system, it is a complete shift in academia whereby the trainees advance after they have demonstrated proficiency in carefully defined learning areas. That is to mean that if you get over the bar faster, the shorter you take in going through the system.

    “We shall ensure that we have now 100 percent transition from primary through to secondary school.” Said President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 3rd National conference on curriculum reforms.

    Equality of learning is probably the most important detail of the new system. It accommodates Individuals who would not thrive in a traditional class. It stresses training on a person’s natural inclinations. The system has flattened the playing field for all learners.

  • A New Dawn

    By Debbie Gitau
    debbiemumbi@gmail.com

    Daystar University’s Vice chancellor, Prof. Laban Ayiro on Wednesday, 12th September, graced the first Student Baraza of the new academic year, in the wake of the new dawn.Prof. Ayiro promised that through his office, the institution will be conducting two annual barazas.

    This will be a platform to communicate the school’s grievances, understand and address the student’s dispositions, the progress, provide accountability and the way forward for the institution.In light of a joyful spirit, he began with awarding of Tracy Osogo, the recipient of the Tutu Ubuntu Scholarship by endorsing her with finances for her upkeep as she travels to 11 different countries in the next 106 days.

    In his speech, the Vice Chancellor mainly geared the students to adopt the doctrine of a strenuous life, the embodiment of vigor in effort, exploiting our potential and having the desire to strive for great things. He stressed on the worrying nature of the academic rigor of Daystarians, the timid-ness of the whole community to rise to global greatness by sacrifice and strife.

    “We have agreed this is a new dawn, I need to see some newness in the offices and my students to enjoy a new learning approach in those lecture rooms then it is a new dawn,” Professor Laban Ayiro said.

    The ongoing and future projects for the institution were also outlined. Some of the projects for the Athi River campus include building a perimeter wall, to renovate and equip the gym, building of a second borehole, and renovation of the amphitheater. The Nairobi Campus projects include expanding and equipping of the studios and library renovations. The projects will be financed mainly by resource mobilization but normal operations of the school will be financed with tuition. The Vice Chancellor hence emphasized on the need to pay tuition for the university to function normally due to the difficult financial constraints. Therefore, registered students who have not cleared out their fees and are not paying in installments nor have bursary in their accounts will be blocked.

    Students also aired out some of their grievances, which included cancellation of classes after registration, ineffectiveness of the transport system, difficult registration for new international students and lack of sport jerseys for football teams. They further suggested that the staff should go for a customer service class and creation of more awareness to specific departments like the Education.

    “I feel like the Vice Chancellor is a man of his word. So far, most of the things he has promised have been attended to or are being worked on,” Clara Ndinda, a Daystar Student said.

  • KUNA NINI KATIKA BARABARA YA MAGADI?

    C21B84F3-9D5B-4371-BC87-FD7C59550353wangukanuri181152@daystar.ac.ke

    Na: Wangu Kanuri

    Ilikuwa vuta nikuvute katika barabara ya Magadi baina wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu cha Multimedia na polisi. Wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu hicho waliandamana na kufunga barabara hiyo kufuatia ajali iliyomlaza mmoja wao katika hospitali kuu ya Kenyatta huku akiwa katika hali mahututi. Kamanda wa Langata bwana Gregory Mutiso aliwarai wasafiri kutumia njia mbadala wanapowatuliza wanafunzi hao waliokuwa wamekabwa koo. Ajali katika barabara hiyo zinazotamatisha maisha ya wanafunzi katika chuo kikuu hicho si jambo geni ndio maana maandamano hayo yaliyoonyesha kughadhabishwa kwa wanafunzi na madereva.

    Kwa kutaka kuchukulia haki mikononi mwao kwa mwanafunzi huyo aliye katika mwaka wake wa kwanza na ambaye wiki jana aligongwa na yu katika hali mahututi, wanafunzi hao waliokerwa walistahimili vitoa machozi ambavyo maaskari waliwarushia nao wakiwarushia mawe. Mwanafunzi huyo aligongwa na matatu iliyokuwa ikiendeshwa kwa kasi mno hapo karibu na lango la chuo hicho kikuu. Isitoshe wanafunzi hao walilalamikia polisi kwa kuchelewa kushughulika baada ya mwanafunzi huyo kugongwa.

    Uchungu uliokuwa nyoyoni mwa wanafunzi hao ulidhibitisha kuwa walikuwa wamekerwa na ajali zinazofanyika katika barabara hiyo zinazotamatisha nyoyo za wenzao huku wakikumbuka kuwa mwaka wa 2016 walipoteza wanafunzi  wawili katika barabara iyo hiyo. Zaidi ya hayo, walilalamikia kuongezewa kwa nauli kwa matatu ya tume ya Ongataline na kunyanyaswa na waendeshaji wa magari hayo.

    Japo gari hiyo iliyomgonga mwanafunzi hiyo I katika kituo cha polisi, usakaji wa dereva huyo aliyemgonga mwanafunzi huyo bado waendelea. Hali kadhalika wanafunzi watatu walikamatwa katika maandamano hayo.

  • Fun at the Fair

    By: Mercie Njoki (mercienjoki12@gmail.com)

    Image courtesy of: http://clipart-library.com

    On Wednesday 24th July, Daystar University held a spotlight career fair at Valley Road Campus. The career fair focused on the film industry boasting a large number of professionals from the industry who were invited to talk to the great number of students who attended the fair.

    The industry professionals who were invited to give a talk on the film industry are none other than Writer and Director Mona Ombogo, Award-Winning Executive producer Quincy Wandera, Actor and Director Mugambi Nthiga, Director Ezekiel Onyango and last but not least, Comedian, law consultant, and Singer June Gachui. The career fair was sponsored by trademarks like Aspire and Empire International and it focused on the theme of building brands.

    Since these industry professionals are very familiar with the film industry, they have a huge understanding of different people’s capabilities in film. One of the speeches that stood out and resonated with the audience full of students was Ezekiel’s speech. He talked about how millennials are people who rely on technology and film plays a key role. He emphasized on how millennials have the most energy and they should use it in creating useful content.

    These industry professionals also emphasized on utilizing our skills in the film digital space. June Gachui talked more about this, she added that in her role on the award-winning film ‘Nairobi Half-Life’, she used her skills intellectually and she goes on to encourage her audience to tell themselves they are great and they can accomplish anything they want. As a law consultant, June deals with copyright and trademarks. She went on to say “if you create your content you own it and if you are employed they own it. Therefore, be careful with whom you collaborate so that the beauty of the product comes out.”

    To sum it all up, the career fair was quite educative and inspiring. The talk enabled the creatives in the room to open their mind further by creating not only great content but also revolutionizing the Kenyan film industry. It was truly an honor to have had the pleasure of listening to these great people as they shared their wisdom and experiences with the future of the Kenyan film industry.