Thursday, July 20, 2023

The University of Nairobi is set to play a strategic role in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya, particularly in the teaching of the Chinese language. This landmark decision was reached during a meeting between the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama Gitahi, and a delegation from various educational institutions in Kenya, who engaged in discussions with their Chinese counterparts. The meeting aimed to devise a plan for the effective rollout of the curriculum for Chinese language education and examination in Kenya.

The introduction of Mandarin as a foreign language in Kenyan schools as part of the CBC was officially approved by the Kenyan government in 2022. Prof. Kiama, accompanied by Dr. Elyas Abdi, the Director-General in charge of basic education, received substantial support from officials of the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), the Chinese Ministry of Education as well as the Tianjin Education Commission.

The delegation led by Prof. Kiama comprised of esteemed academics and education experts from the Ministry of Education, University of Nairobi, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and a representative from Kenyan secondary schools.

Highlighting the significance of internationalizing education, Prof. Kiama emphasized the role of foreign language education as a key strategy in achieving this goal and advancing sustainable development objectives. The collaboration with Tianjin Normal University has yielded remarkable progress, contributing to the university's vision of internationalization.

The educational visit to China was skillfully coordinated by the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi in partnership with Tianjin Normal University in China.

As part of this strategic partnership, Tianjin Normal University, the University of Nairobi, and the government of the People’s Republic of China, through the Ministry of Education, will jointly support the initiative by training Chinese language teachers for high schools and teachers' training colleges in Kenya. In addition to this, the partners have committed to assist Kenya in developing and promoting a globally recognized curriculum, providing scholarships, and donating learning resources.

Prof. Zhong Yinghua, the President of Tianjin Normal University, reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen the collaboration between Tianjin Normal University and the University of Nairobi. This partnership has flourished due to its foundation on the principles of trust, friendship, and effective collaboration.

During the visit to China, Prof. Kiama also signed strategic academic and research collaborations with Southwest Jiaotong University of China and Hubei University of Technology. Southwest Jiaotong University is renowned for being a leading Railway Engineering School in China and is actively involved in the research and development of the High-Speed railway in the country. The collaboration between the two universities is expected to enhance the University of Nairobi's capacity to train skilled manpower for Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.

The University of Nairobi's involvement in the implementation of the CBC and the establishment of strong partnerships with Chinese institutions is a significant step towards fostering academic excellence, cultural exchange, and research advancements, contributing to Kenya's educational and infrastructural development.