NAIROBI—The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to hire Imams and pastors in schools to promote Value-based Education (VbE) as per the proposals of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
President William Ruto received the report on Tuesday, August 1, in which stakeholders in the education sector expressed the need to raise awareness about value-based education (VbE).
The taskforce suggested achieving this goal by involving all members of the school community, integrating values across all learning areas, and designing and implementing formal chaplaincy programs in schools.
The proposed change would involve the Ministry of Education (MoE) in the creation of formalized chaplaincy (religious and moral) and counseling guidelines and programs. The Ministry of Education, faith-based organizations, and professional counseling agencies will collaborate on curriculum development. “TSC shall employ and deploy teachers as chaplains/imams in schools, and the chaplains/imams can be shared between schools,” the PWPER recommended.
TSC will also be tasked with ensuring that all students’ religious rights are protected in the classroom. “A provision facilitating the religious rights of learners in schools, including sponsored schools, should be included in the Basic Education Act,” states a section of the report.
The report further suggests making it the responsibility of the Education Cabinet Secretary to hold consultative forums with all religious organizations in the country.
According to the report, the goal of the plan is to draft regulations that safeguard the religious freedom of all students in public primary and secondary schools.
