Teaching CBC amid drought only causing confusion in Kilifi

But the assignments are just the tip of the iceberg since a lack of classrooms has made the education process for some of the teachers and pupils chaotic.  

Hassan is a teacher at Kavunzoni Primary School in Kilifi County, where one classroom hosts a mix of both Grade 1 and 2 pupils because of a lack of classrooms. 

It can be chaotic, Hassan says, and grabbing and holding the pupils’ attention is an uphill task.

“Watoto wengine wanabebwa na darasa lengine maanake wakati mwengine mwalimu anaimba wewe unafundisha kusoma kwa hivyo wanafunzi wako wanabebwa na hilo darasa lengine unapata huna wanafunzi wanakusikiliza,” he narrates.

Although there exists an imaginary boundary that the pupils are aware of, a one-on-one between teacher and pupil is impossible.  

Some are left behind during these lessons; a sad affair bearing in mind such images were common in the education sector almost 30 years ago.

Hassan says that at times, a teacher may not teach all lessons in a day because you are sharing the chalkboard, so the slower ones are left behind.

The classroom challenge is one of many.  This school is located in Ganze, one of the areas hardest hit by drought in Kilifi County.

For instance, lessons in tree planting are important here, but reality hits hard when the seedlings wither.

“Upanzi wa mimea tumejaribu kupanda miti, kumwagilia maji kama yako, lakini maji yakipotea miti inakufa. Watoto wanaleta maji kidogo kidogo lakini wakati mwingine wanashindwa.  Hakuna ya kunywa, hayo ya kumwagilia mimea yatatoka wapi?” Gift Kidodo, another teacher, says.

There are seven teachers serving 316 pupils in the school. Parents have lost livelihoods and their children have dropped out and engaged in casual labour to assist in income generation through charcoal burning and operating boda bodas.

“CBC yahitaji fedha nyingi na materials za kutumika, haswa kwa somo kama Home Science. Mzazi akipata pesa kidogo anafikiria tumbo la mtoto, unga na maji, kwa hivyo materials zinakosekana za CBC,” adds Kidodo.

As a new Cabinet Secretary awaits approval to take over the education docket, teachers and pupils from areas like Ganze hope recommendations by the 42-member working group will bear in mind their harsh reality.