2 min read
2015/08/05
Avallain Africa’s a-ACADEMY has been recognized as an official partner of the Kenyan Ministry of Education and the Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development. The partnership focuses on integrating information communications technology in public education and reflects a-Academy’s success as a digital learning tool adapted to the needs of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The announcement came as part of a meeting organised by the Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development and the Aga Khan Foundation, which focused on the integration of technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who visited Kenya last week, emphasised that this generation of Kenyans has the opportunity to build its future and actualise its potential at home – an opportunity previous generations had been denied.
a-ACADEMY prioritises such a home-focused approach by working with local teachers, said Martina Amoth, Avallain’s Kenya-based education manager. Several a-Academy features particularly impressed the Kenyan Ministry of Education, such as its functionality as a teacher tool to support student-centered approaches to learning through problem-solving and collaborative learning.
During the meeting, Amoth showcased a-ACADEMY ‘s Class 6 Science curriculum, which is based on consultation and collaboration with local teachers and includes extended learning activities, experiments, and collaborative learning activities. John Temba, Head of Information Communications Technology in Education for the Ministry of Education, singled out Avallain Africa, which creates and operates a-ACADEMY, for its sincere and effective collaboration with the Ministry. Temba noted the high quality of a-ACADEMY’s educational materials and its responsiveness to local educational needs.
The Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development has been charged with rolling out a full national teacher preparation program for ICT integration in education over the next four years. Other partners in this initiative include the Teachers Service Commission, the Kenya National Union of Teachers, AKF, Plan International and USAID. As a next step, a-ACADEMY has been invited to participate in an eLearning Innovations Conference sponsored by the Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development in September.
Avallain Africa is a not-for-profit organisation financed by Avallain AG. Based in Kenya, Avallain Africa combines capacity building with investment in the local economy.
