OUPEA develops free teacher resource books for new curriculum

The company has conducted free online training for teachers’ professional development. Oxford will also conduct training for parents to help them understand the changes in the competence-based curriculum.

By Steve UMIDHA On Feb 21, 2018

Oxford University Press East Africa (OUPEA) has developed free teacher resource books for Early Years Education (EYE) called the ‘Teacher’s Companion’.

The free books have been published with the aim of equipping Kenyan teachers with skills that they will need to effectively play the role of a facilitator in a classroom in the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) environment to support the second phase of the pilot of the new curriculum.

The material, which has been developed in conjunction with KICD-trained curriculum experts and teacher trainers, is part of OUP’s mission to work with partners to ensure that every child gets the best possible education by providing curriculum-compliant books and supporting teachers’ professional development.

“As a leader in the field of education, OUP has made efforts to meet the growing demand and new thinking to help the learner develop 21st century skills. We believe that great things happen when schools, teachers and engaged parents work together to support children,” said OUP General Manager, John Mwazemba.

In addition, OUP will train over 7,500 lower primary school teachers, in line with the competence-based curriculum introduced this year. The training programme was started in January and will be completed in April 2018.

OUP is holding 50 workshops across the country, of which 30 will be co-sponsored with partners, ApBEt (Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training), the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE). The co-sponsored training programmes will complement the current ongoing sub-county teachers training programmes.

“The new curriculum is the vehicle through which Kenya will empower its citizens with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to be socially and economically engaged and empowered, for personal and national development. OUP has been working in education in Africa for 100 years and it has vast experience and deep understanding of competency-based curricula,’’MrMwazemba, concluded.