Mombasa, KENYA: The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in collaboration with the Global Affairs Canada has officially launched an academic professional learning network aimed at strengthening teacher education and support systems in Mombasa County.
Speaking during the official launch of the research report on Tuesday in Mombasa, Enos Kiforo an academic professional at Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, said the research is designed to explore the potential and the challenges facing professional learning networks as structures for continuous professional learning and school improvement.
He added that the study employed a multi-method qualitative research design conducted between 2016- 2017 including among others methods such as document analysis, individual interviews, focus group analysis and classroom observations.
“Our research is aimed at exploring the potential and the challenges facing professional learning networks for academic improvement. Some of the methods we used in gathering the information include document analysis, individual interviews, focus groups among others.” He explained.
On the other hand, Rose Iminza a teacher at the Aga Khan Academy, said the school heads trained after the completion of the study have been doing quite well in their respective schools when it comes to analyzing performance.
She however argued that there is a need for the teachers to be helped in documenting the practices learnt through a research on their own or through research scientists and added that Kwale and Mombasa counties responded quite well from the research.
“According to the findings of the research, those teachers we trained have been doing so well in their schools. Kwale and Mombasa counties have also been doing well.” She said.
On the other hand, Mary Whittaker an academic research scientist from Ontario University of Toronto pointed out that are planning to conduct further research in all East African countries in order to improve the literacy levels in these countries.
We are planning to conduct a further research in all the East African countries so that we can improve the literacy levels in these countries.
She however said that there are so many things that should be done by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to bring a positive change towards the teaching profession in the country.
“We are planning to conduct a further research in all the East African countries so that we can improve the literacy levels in these countries. Although there is so much to be done by the KICD in order to bring change in the education sector.” She insisted.
The Aga Khan Academy aims at identifying and developing teachers of the highest quality who are committed both to the all-round development of young people and to their own professional growth as excellent teachers.
Through the academy’s professional development provision, it helps create a professional community of competent, well-resourced teachers who continue to support and collaborate with one another on materials development, by sharing best practices, and in establishing diverse academic, cultural and social projects.
