Professional Development for Teachers

Improve the quality of instruction and retain teachers

Karimu provides opportunities for teachers to obtain diplomas or university degrees by providing scholarships that cover 75% of education cost. The teachers are required to cover the remaining 25%. The scholarship is only available to a single teacher for 4 years for 1 qualification or 6 years for continuing education for 2 qualifications.

This program started in 2011 and has enabled many teachers to obtain advanced degrees. It was expanded into Arri ward in 2018.  As of year end 2022,  29% of all teachers in Ayalagaya ward have taken advantage of this program and 16% of teachers in Arri ward. 

In order for the school teachers to be eligible for scholarships, the school must also meet these criteria:

• Teachers are recording student attendance every day and student and teacher attendance rate at his/her school is above 90%.

• Passing rate on the National Exam is at or above the passing rate required (based on student/teacher ratio).

• Every student receives a meal at his/her school.

• School must ensure the proper use of the First Aid Kit for school needs only.

• Menstrual pads to all girls at school are available for free at all times.

• The school is promoting hand washing and good hygiene practices. 

• If the school has any facilities constructed by Karimu, they also are required to run an annual class on good hygiene practices and proper use of bathroom facilities and ensure proper cleaning and maintenance of the facilities.

Karimu will offer scholarships to up to 70% of teachers in a ward.

Diploma education is a 2-year course that emphasizes teaching methodologies and ethics. Degree corresponds to a university degree in the west and is the highest level of teacher education. Normally, degree holders are trained in order to teach in secondary schools and teacher training colleges. Training should take four years. Teacher training at this level varies in specializations: teachers training as college tutors specializing in teaching methodologies and education psychology and teachers training to teach in secondary schools, learning many academic subjects but relatively fewer teaching methodologies.

The table below shows the number of teachers who received scholarships, which qualification they received, and the total cost to Karimu per year. Costs range between $250 and $600 per teacher per year

In Nov 2024, Karimu made a decision to close this project. Assessment showed that while teachers were advancing their education, they were also in higher demand elsewhere so it did not improve the overall qualifications locally. The candidates that were still midway through their degree will be supported through degree completion in 2026. We will officially close the project after their studies complete.

We have replaced this project with the school incentives program. In this program schools are rewarded according to their performance in the several metrics. 

Read more about the Karimu’s Education Program  and see the Karimu Education Dashboard for details on key metrics.

Benefits:

• Overall improvement in education as teachers learn better teaching methods