Kenya’s Concept of Child Friendly School Seen in Light of Julius Nyerere’s Philosophy of Education

Abstract

The Child-Friendly Schools (CFS) concept is grounded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and represents a holistic, system-wide approach to improving educational quality that places the child at the center of education reform. As a concept it ought to provide opportunities for the fullest development of individual talents and personality. It should help children to develop their potential interest and abilities to make them self reliant. A vital aspect of individual development is character building. Furthermore, it should promote sound moral and religious values. It should also provide for the development of knowledge, skills and attitude that will enhance acquisition of sound moral values and help children to grow up into selfdisciplined, self-equality and integrated citizens. Various steps and strategies have been taken to review and reform curriculum to make education realize the above education ideals. Despite the effort put in place to realize the set goals and objectives of the Child Friendly School, it seems Schools in Kenya are still encountering several challenges. For instance, the learning environment in public primary schools seems not learner friendly. The curriculum in primary schools does not seem to enhance quality and holistic development. Studies have shown that the physical and the class room environment is of low quality and this significantly affects the quality of education in primary schools. The curriculum is so much examination oriented, whereby too much emphasis is put on the academic performance and competition at the expense of holistic learning and development. Learners thus complete primary education while still lacking the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and competencies to make them self reliant in society. This study intends to suggest an alternative Child Friendly School model based on Julius Nyerere’s education philosophy, which will enhance holistic development of students at primary level. To achieve this, the researcher has set three objectives to guide the study: To analyze the tenets of the Child Friendly School, to evaluate the philosophy of Child Friendly School education in the light of Julius Nyerere’s education philosophy and to create an alternative Child Friendly School model founded on Nyerere’s philosophy of education. This study being a philosophical undertaking will apply philosophical research methods namely; phenomenological, rational and the critical techniques, speculative and conceptual analysis. The study will be anchored on John Dewey’s pragmatic theory of education, whereby his ideas and concepts of education will be examined. The study will finally make some recommendations for the establishment of a new model of the child friendly school appropriate to the needs and opportunities of education in Kenya.