RCE North Rift Adopt Two ESD Model Schools

In 2018, the Ministry of Education in Kenya developed an ESD Policy for the Education Sector, which highlights the need for transformative learning and research as key in ESD. Guidelines for implementation of the policy in various levels of education were developed. As ESD proposes a whole institutional approach that embraces societal, economic and environmental dimensions, several institutions in Kenya, both Governmental and Non-Governmental, have designed a sustainability model for schools which serve as demonstration centres for sustainability and provide support to pupils with necessary skills as part of a Competent-Based Curriculum. 

RCE North Rift, NEMA, University of Eldoret has identified two schools within its region (Kimumu Primary School and Kobil Integrated) to be model schools in the region. Activities undertaken have included the provision of two 10,000 litre water tanks for roof water catchment, with the two model schools each having received two handwashing tanks. A third school, Kimumu Secondary (a Green club school) also received handwashing tanks.  

One of the priority areas for the country has been to transform learning and training environments by ensuring that there is a sustainable learning environment such as eco schools or green campuses. Most of the institutions have embarked on the establishment of ESD model schools in Kenya. The approaches on the establishment of ESD model schools are driven and guided by various Legislations, Presidential Directives and policies, with the schools coordinated by Government agencies, the Private sector and members of the civil society organisation. The eco schools and model schools are being implemented by different institutions with minimal coordination among the actors, therefore there is a need to have a multi-stakeholder collaborative and synergised approach in order to effectively coordinate the schools. In view of this, an initial meeting/forum to bring together all the stakeholders to deliberate on how to develop this common approach is imperative. This will be followed by a meeting to share experiences. 

Country: 
Kenya