A historic teacher’s convention was held by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, the East and Central Africa Division (ECD) at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB) from August 27 to 30, 2008. This mission territory comprises: Burundi , Congo , Djibouti , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Kenya , Rwanda , Somalia , Uganda , and Tanzania.
The SDA church operates more than 7,000 schools, colleges, and universities with approximately 75,000 teachers and more than 1.4 million students world wide. Its philosophy of education is Christ centered: To restore human beings to the image of their maker (God).
The Minister of Basic Education Hon. Prof. Sam Ongeri, the President of ECD Dr. Geoffrey Bwana, the General Conference (GC) Director of Education, Dr. Garland Dulan , the GC Associate Director of Education, Dr. John Fowler, the Vice President for Education of the North America Division (NAD), Dr. Larry Blackmer, the ECD Director of Education, Dr. Hudson Kibuuka, and the Vice Chancellor of UEAB, among others graced the opening of the convention.
The Minister of education called upon the … delegates to embrace the fact that students are fearfully and wonderfully made as they prepare the young mind to meet future challenges.
He reminded the teachers that education is the sure approach in curbing viscous cycle of poverty – as it gives young people an opportunity to compete at the global arena. “Teachers are the fulcrum at which development of a country is based,” he said, “Thus every government is challenged to ensure that quality education is offered to the learners.”
He concurred with Dr. Dulan on the philosophy of SDA education, that his early education in Bugema Missionary College in Uganda molded him to be what he is today as he emphasized on the need to “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Prof. Ongeri resonated with Dr. Blackmer whose soul searching presentation "Does God has a face?" said that teachers, parents, and the community (the church) are God’s face for the students to behold and become. Teachers were encouraged to size the opportunity at their disposal to mold future expectations. They were challenged to disseminate information that will nurture love as opposed to hatred in the growing minds. Jesus’ example should be emulated in dealing with children – he called them to his side – confirming their worthy. Indeed, learners look to teachers as their role model.
Dr. Fowler hooked the delegates with his inspiring presentation, for teachers to prepare students who can stand as fortresses preserving the treasure of true knowledge to the coming generations. He challenged them to examine the basis of students’ decisions for their destiny through a meditative testimony. How his friend cum classmate became an expert pickpocket in India , while by God’s grace he become a pastor with a doctoral degree, notwithstanding his poor economic background.
Parents were called to pick up their role with gusto as they meld with the community and the teachers to salvage young people from drowning in “a society which is in a crisis.” “Where escalating moral decadence and hopelessness characterized by dogmatic rationalization of ill – practices, subjective and dehumanizing theories” are prevalent as was highlighted by George Oromo, Head Teacher of Segero Adventist Secondary School during the workshops. Daniel Ruto a don at UEAB eloquently dived into the need for applying guidance and counseling in our homes and schools to redeem the students from this mire of moral decay.
The curricula of the mosaic system of education that were represented were given a thought. The curriculum was challenged to be relevant to meet the dynamic demand of the “flat world” as Dr. Blackmer sagaciously put it. Prof. Ongeri echoed that for a contextual curriculum to be espoused teachers should teach from the known to the unknown. Hence, tapping the potential of 70 percent of the youth population across the world.
Prof. Ongeri also pointed out that the Kenyan government is out to install satellites for educational purposes, yes; Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) has been advised to integrate computing in learning materials. From this worldview of what is supposed to thought to the students Dr. Fanta Hotamo demystified the place of christian education as “the foundation upon which all academic pursuits are build.” “Because of its infallible truths, students are often better able to reach their full potential,” he said, thus, “some institutions prepare student for a job, other equip students for life.”
On the same note, Philip Kirwa swirled with the challenge of meeting Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and Kenya ’s vision 2030 and those of other nations. This will take “quality Education, Training and research to all citizens to enhance development and well being,” he said, “ being fully involved in improving all areas and what we do and injecting ideas of success in our schools through good leadership and management.”
Teachers were showered with a sense of their nobility and esteem by a very intelligent presentation by Catherine Amimo. She synthesized on the global research on teacher burnout and Biblical perspective on solution given. She pointed out that teacher burnout is a malady through which the world has lost a majority of genius-professional-teachers. Unfortunately, “ordinary teachers who are victims do not seem to understand,” she said.
“A synthesis of research shows that teachers who join the profession while on fire soon burn out unable to understand why or how to fix their problems. The familiar advice for teachers to inspire before they expire, seem to erroneously suggest that there are no solutions to the teacher burnout,” she remarked. The presentation roared aloud for the need of such gatherings where teachers will have an opportunity to share there challenges and the way forward. For “the Bible promises strength, peace and rest to those who are weary and tired,” she concluded.
Sex education was given its rightful room of time vis-à-vis STDs, including HIV/AIDS, and unwanted pregnancies. Dr. Mbuya Ochanda of University of Nairobi and Philemon Yugi of ADRA brought to the fore the current unbearable spread and effect of HIV/ AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa . Tabitha Muchee dug deep into the realities in our schools where neither teachers nor students are spared in sexual encounters. She explored the various alternatives and approaches that are advocated; however, she challenged the teachers to be role models and develop a program that will nurture positive relationship between students and adults. “This will make,” the students, “to be more likely to have a sense of hope for the future and a reason to delay sex until the right the time,” she said.
Dr. Lazarus Ndiku enhanced the dialogue on the use of the media in teaching and learning, along side his advice that “they can be used badly and interfere with the learning that is supposed to be going on,” he said. While Prof. Abraham Idowu presented a timely paper on ethical issues in the computing world – crowning his presentation with ten commandments for computer users in our schools.
Technology found itself at the cross road in this convention as the minister of education laid bare the ambitious program by the government to ensure that all schools are facilitated with computers for our students to catch up with the global trend. But on the other side of the coin Prof. Ongeri gave profound reason behind the banning of cell phones, yes, electronic gadgets from the reach of the students – to buffer them from accessing the ills of the internet (pornography). This will enable students to be grilled with useful knowledge to proclaim to the world as Shadrack Kamundi put it in the workshops.
The convention was too an exhibition of talent, memory of the past experiences of various countries have undergone, and the unified people who have emerged determined to keep on pressing forward in spite of the monumental challenges. These countries were here annexed with the belt of Adventist education makes a difference: be fully involved.
Rwanda delegates graced the meeting with anecdotes of pastry memory and the healing process the country has experienced after the horrific genocide. They were each carrying an emblem of their flag; nevertheless, their maestro performance brought a message of hope for Africa from its impediments. On that note Prof. Ongeri reminded the audience the turbulent times Kenya went thought during the post election violence as he paraphrased 1 Peter 3:8-11: We need to be loving, kind, and humble to one another, never paying evil with evil, but instead with blessings and striving for peace with all our hearts.
Israel , a teacher from Uganda amazed many with his natural trumpet – it will remain
etched in the mind of the attendants: a rare skill of maneuvering the month.
The V.C of UEAB acknowledged the confidence the church and the neighboring countries have invested in Kenya for the convention: “Welcome again to Kenya .”
Adventist education makes a difference embrace it.
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