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CHILD-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS
NAKURU, KENYA, 16 – 20 January 2012: Members of the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers
Association (KEPSHA) attended a workshop in Nakuru, organized by UNICEF Kenya and the
Ministry of Education, to share their experiences on Child Friendly School (CFS) approach in their
districts. The head teachers were also trained on Disaster Risk Reduction as a critical component of
a child friendly school. Some of the head teachers from various parts of the country share their
experiences on CFS and the way forward:
1. Vihiga County, Western Province
Josephat Otiende – Gilwadzi Friends Primary School
I have seen a great change in our school ever since we adopted childfriendly practices. We have greatly improved on gender parity because
in the past the ratio was 6 boys to 4 girls but now we have 235 boys in
the school and 228 girls. This is something I am very proud of and our
academic performance reflects on our positive changes.
After the training, I invited two female District Officers from our area
to talk to the pupils and their parents, as role models for the girls and an example of how far a good
education can take them. I also invited our alumni in university and high school to further motivate
the students and this encouraged many out of school girls to come to school.
After this head teachers’ workshop I am convinced that I will have to go back and set up a students’
government. We want the school to be a centre of excellence in child friendly schools so that other
schools can learn from it.
2. Masaba South District, Nyanza Province
Jane Mogire – Gesusu Primary School
I was posted in Gesusu Primary School 10 years ago and the
performance was very low. After we were trained on CFS practices
there has been a tremendous change in the school and many others
in the county. The classes are more inclusive and child friendly and
this enables students to interact freely with the teachers. Even the
girls are not shying off as they used to and equally compete with the
boys academically. We have also abandoned corporal punishment
and taken up guidance counseling which has further improved the student-teacher relationship and
motivated students to improve their performance.
On health and nutrition, we created linkages with the local health centres who visit the school to
deworm the children and give multi-vitamins. Nonetheless we have many challenges especially since
Gusii County has high levels of poverty which affects community linkages. Sometimes parents are
not engaged in their children’s education as they are busy trying to make a living hence the child is
often neglected.
We plan to work more closely with our parents and the area parliamentarian for the welfare of the
child.
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3. Nandi County, Rift Valley Province
Philip Mitei – All Saints Kebulonik Primary
Our School has always been a top performer in the country, but after
the CFS training the performance also improved significantly. More so
the attitude of teachers and students has changed making the school
child friendly and more disciplined. We have initiated an open door
policy for students to approach teachers and seek assistance. Even my
door is open to our students and they can come in for a chat!
The pupils are more engaged in school activities, taking care of school resources and keeping the
school clean. They really own these initiatives. Every class has a pocket board and this has reduced
the cost of purchasing the learning aids from shops as we use the natural materials; teachers and
students work together to create these learning aids.
We want to continue strengthening community linkages with the community, parents, stakeholders
and our area member of parliament to keep up these motivating results.
4. Nairobi County/ Province
Evelynn Njagi – Daima Primary, Nairobi
My school is situated in one of the slums in Nairobi and we were all
trained by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education to ensure that Daima
Primary is CFS compliant! The parents are also aware that this is a
child friendly school and through regular meetings they have been
supportive.
Though our performance in last year’s exams dropped, we are still
embracing CFS because we should not just look at the performance in exams but also the holistic
child and how CFS has impacted them. I truly believe that the Nairobi child is more independent and
disciplined thanks to CFS!
5. Nyandarua County, Central Province
Francis Nyahoro Ndirangu – Githioro Primary
When I was trained on CFS in September 2010 I strongly felt that this
was the right thing to do to transform education in the country. I
therefore worked closely with the District Education Officer to realize
child friendly schools in Nyandarau District by first training our
teachers because I believe in the saying ‘Nothing for us without us.’
The most positive impact has been the transformation and
conservation of our environment because we managed to start a tree nursery which is flourishing. In
fact, we have been able to sponsor 3 students on to high school through the trees we sell from the
tree nursery and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Our parents are very supportive of child
friendly projects and have even contributed to water projects in various schools in the district.
Sometimes I even give these parents and their children a tree to take home and plant!
Before the end of the year, I want to ensure that all head teachers in Nyandarua County are trained
to become CFS compliant and hold seminars in their schools.
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6. Machakos County, Eastern Province
Winfred Sila – Kyaume Primary School
Our academic performance has really improved compared to
previous years when our schools were among the bottom in the
County. In 2010, after the training our mean score in national exams
improved from 229.34 in 2009 to 235.62 in 2010 and 248.34 in 2011.
We are really impressed by this upward deviation.
When we were trained head teachers learnt that all students can be accommodated under one roof
regardless of their diverse backgrounds, beliefs, gender, and so forth. This has contributed to the
good performance
We still face some challenges, particularly my school which is in a drug-infested community and
therefore affects our linkages with the community. Children are also affected by the drug menace
but we try to offer guidance and counseling for them to abstain from drugs and alcohol. A child
friendly school will help to keep students in class and off the streets.
7. Wajir East District, North Eastern Province
Habiba Mohammed – Catholic Intergrated School
The most tremendous progress has been made through our childchild approach. By creating child friendly schools we have
empowered the children to reach other children in the community
who are not attending school or are facing various challenges. For
example, our girls go around the village and motivate other girls who
are at home to come to school. They also report to us any cases of
early marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM) and this
has enabled the schools to rescue many girls.
Children’s governments have also been established in almost every school with great success as the
children have learnt to be more disciplined and have high morals. I believe we will produce many
leaders from this district.
We have gone very far, and we are going to even further with our action plan. Our geographic area is
different from others and unless we do research and have a methodology to work with our children
we will never be self-sufficient.
8. Mombasa County, Coast Province – Chairman
Fuad Ali – Serani Primary School
Our teachers were trained in CFS practices and since then they are
embracing the child-centred approach. Children are free to express
themselves and are fully involved in learning, even in making learning
aids. Teachers are taking time to understand their learners better
which is a positive aspect. Even truant and undisciplined students are
now being counseled and understood which helps to keep them in
school.
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We have really tried to ensure equity and equality in our classrooms, especially in gender parity and
Mombasa has attained 50/50 girls and boys in schools. However, we are facing challenges in creating
disability friendly schools to enhance equity and will keep working on this.
Going forward, we hope to strengthen the students’ council to be more effective. At the moment we
still have the old system whereby teachers appoint student leaders but we want our students to
participate in school governance and voice their opinions.