The biggest concern for Pan-Africans has been the continued loss of African cultures due to westernization but Children in Freedom school sheds a ray of hope on the protection and promotion of African cultures. The school was founded by Dr. Utheri Kanayo with the partnership of her husband Eng. Oku Kunayo, it is located in Lanet, Nakuru.
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| A class session at Children in Freedom School. |
Dr. Kunayo is an educational researcher who
worked at the University of Cambridge before returning to Kenya where she has
been conducting educational research and helping in redesigning educational models to suit Africa’s needs. Initially, the couple had set up a scholarship program
that helped children from less privileged households attend school.
They later realized that taking children to
schools that use the same curriculum that did not proved to work for Africa or failed
to produce the right Africans, was against their goals. This resulted in the
idea of an Afrocentric school, so far the only one in East Africa.
The name of the school ‘ Children in
Freedom’ indicate the motivation to live in African freedom, not letting the world’s limitation for black people determine the children’s capabilities. The
children are made aware of the existence of the white supremacy system so that they grow up criticizing it and living over its oppressions. They are also
taught to take pride in their African features and heritage.
The school’s curriculum focuses on
incorporating positive African histories, culture, and literature as it
minimizes the amount of exposure to Eurocentric and American content. Interviewed
by BBC, Dr. Utheri stated:
“When we say Afrocentric we mean Africa centred, that we are preparing black children to love themselves and to own who they are and where they come from.”
The project started with mentoring a
group of 79 students, later on, it proved successful so its founders carried out
a campaign to gather funds from donors, government ministries etc. In January
2018, the school was officially opened. It serves as a private and boarding
school which uses the Kenyan curriculum but implements an Afrocentric model.
I find this school amazing, in addition to
the school uniform being made up of Ankara wear, students refer to themselves by
their African names, mother tongue languages are allowed and students can also
take exams in their native languages.
“Speaking my mother tongue makes me feel proud of myself, makes me feel happy and free.”
~ Gabriella Sikhoya, Student.
This is different from the days that some
of us were schooling, before Dr. Utheri’s honourable school, students who spoke
their native tongues would get punished, sometimes walking with cards hanging on
their necks written, ‘I am a fool’. One would be required to pass the card to anyone that spoke a language other that English. This behaviour is what Prof. Ngugi Wa
Thiong’o in ‘Decolonizing the Mind’ says it "taught children the lucrative
value of being a traitor to one’s immediate community".
Children in Freedom school has developed a
mechanism to deal with this vice, there is a Student Ubuntu Baraza Committee
which inspires peer accountability for the good of the community rather than
being individualistic.
After he had visited the school, Professor
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o testimonial is featured on the school’s website:
“I enjoyed interacting with your children. Fire and light. The Sun/ Ra combines fire and light. Utheri and Oku are the sun of Africa.”
Parents of the students have also seen the value added to their children's life.
Children in other parts of the world who receive quality Education learn relevant skills very early in life. This makes them technically and business-oriented in their adult life. This is what is happening now at CIF. Kudos.
Henry Methu, Parent.
As the competence-based curriculum was being introduced in Kenya in 2017, Children in Freedom School also focused on nurturing children’s special abilities. The children get a chance to practice cooking, programming, typing, presenting, dancing, fashion and design etc. Technology is also introduced to children at a younger age of 5.
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| Students learning cooking skills. |
The school values; love, consideration,
integrity, trustworthiness, accountability, responsibility, respect and honour
are guided by the African spirit of Ubuntu (I am because we are).
In a guest post on Global Ed Leadership, Dr. Utheri wrote;
“We do not teach math just to pass an exam, but also include references from Africa to enhance the lesson, such as the Ishango bone which mathematicians used near the river Zaire many centuries ago to do multiplication and addition.”
Her goal, 3 years down the line, is to
influence the education sector in Africa and the Diaspora. She also hopes to
establish a Pan African Boarding Secondary School and admit students from all
over Africa.
If you are interested in learning more about the school in Nakuru, visit its official website.
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