RCEs in Kenya: Engaging policy for sustainable development By Dr Ayub Macharia NEMA-Kenya

Presentation outline ESD Policy development Legislation Sustainability targets Role of RCEs Challenges How challenges are being addressed Conclusion

Kenya constitution 2010 Chapter 2 Article 10 (2d) identifies sustainable development as a national value to be mainstreamed Chapter 4 article 42 – Bill of Rights – Right of every person to a clean and healthy environment This provision gives education a bigger opportunity to focus on ESD Any reforms in education sector are anchored on the Kenya Constitution 2010

Policy Legislation Sessional paper No 14 of 2012 – Reforming education and training sector in Kenya” has rationalized delivery of education in Kenya including passage of relevant Acts by parliament Environment policy being finalized

National ESD Policy The National ESD Policy was validated by stakeholders in March 2012 Draft ESD policy was tabled to the National Environment Council on 1 st November 2013 Next step – Approval by cabinet and Parliament

Legislation Section 5 of Basic Education Act establishes the National Education Board as an advisory body for the Cabinet secretary on education matters NEB was appointed in August 2013 Section 42 d of the Basic Education Act stipulates that the NEB should prescribe to the Cabinet Secretary Environmental Protection Education for Sustainable Development

Education Sector - ESD Implementation initiatives Institutional ESD policies done for Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT), & Pwani University Establishment of ESD coordination desk in MOEST, Department of Education in the Directorate of Policy The Ministry of Education has also entrenched ESD in the National Education Support Programme (NESSP) to be implemented in five years (2012 – 2018). KICD currently working on draft curriculum developers orientation manual jointly with NEMA and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

National Education Sector Support Programme National Education Sector Support Programme (NESSP) being finalized and ESD is one of the investment programme under crosscutting issues to be implemented from Priorities – customization of National ESD policy, review of curricula to realign with the constitution and mainstream ESD

Sustainability targets It’s a national policy that all public institutions must implement sustainability targets NEMA tasked with role of developing the targets, evaluating and reporting to central government NEMA reports to Office of the President every quarter NEMA builds the capacity of these institutions to mainstream and implement environmental sustainability targets

ESD strategy Kenya developed an ESD strategy in 2007 to guide all ESD interventions ESD captured in Vision 2030 MTP1 of Vision 2030 committed to develop an ESD policy and curricula at all levels to be reoriented to ESD Vision 2030 MTP2 plans to have the curriculum changed to mainstream the constitution National ESD steering committee in place

Engaging policy makers Sensitization meetings held for – senior staff of 22 Ministries and – senior staff and senates of most universities in Kenya Sensitization meetings on ESD for school teachers in collaboration with other institutions such as African Fund for Endangered Wildlife – Kenya (AFEW-K) Production of reference materials such as Religious ESD Toolkit by KOEE, ESD Education pack for schools by AFEW-K Media engagement is still very low

Engaging policy makers 8 th Global RCE conference – Governors forum – Commission for University Education Forum – Vice Chancellors forum Purpose – Further engage the policy makers on ESD

Role of RCEs A lot of synergies exist in mandatory activities done by public institutions in RCEs Opportunity for develop major programme based on mandatory mandate Funds allocated could be optimized if synergies harnessed e.g tree planting, Big picture outlook encouraged

ESD Projects Several ESD projects being undertaken with RCEs such as – RCE Mau on climate change education – RCE Greater Pwani on Biodiversity using Botanical Garden – RCE Greater Nairobi on solid waste management Eco – Schools (Whole Institutions Approach) by KOEE ESD Demonstration centres at Nairobi Primary Sch, Jamhuri high school and City Primary school,- Nairobi

ESD projects contd Green points – 2 already constructed and 3 to be finalized this year. Provide exhibition space and community centre to showcase best practices in ESD Green points to be ESD enterprise incubation centres Replicate best practices

Key challenges Concept of ESD not fully understood Very few ESD experts Lack of ESD learning materials especially in formal and non-formal level Current curriculum is exam oriented and overloaded No pre-service and in-service of teachers on ESD Little ESD research being undertaken especially PAR Inadequate resources – funds, experts Inadequate dissemination of innovations and findings Use of ICT to enhance ESD is minimal M&E tool not well understood due to inadequate capacity

Challenges cont’d Thinking globally and acting locally Linkage with government and private sector initiatives RCE action plans

How NEMA addresses the challenges Devolved contact persons from NEMA National RCE network Capturing RCE activities in NEMA workplans Meeting with RCE coordinators Capacity building and mentoring for upcoming RCEs Funding some RCE activities e.g. botanic garden, solid waste project, climate change project

Interventions cont’d Annual RCE conference Roping in of policy makers and other project initiatives to RCE activities Quarterly monitoring and evaluation by NEMA

Future prospects towards ESD Adoption of ESD Policy by Cabinet & Parliament Review of Curricula Contextualization of ESD at County Level ESD engagement agenda post 2014

Conclusion Policy framework is available to support ESD development in Kenya RCEs have not harnessed synergies within their regional contexts Need for enhanced policy engagement

Thank you