Learning

After Kenya closed schools in response to the pandemic, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development requested that eKitabu support students who are deaf by developing sign language videos that support early grade literacy for deaf children.

Kenya implemented the Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity in 2014. It introduced interventions at the grade 1 level beginning in 2015. Taking its name from the Kiswahili word for “let’s read,” the Tusome program was a five-year, nationwide effort.

In 2010, less than ten percent of Kenya’s primary school-aged children were reading at the national level benchmarks. Ten years later, largely due to the success of the Tusome program, nearly 66 percent of grade two students now read at grade level.

Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and KCEO’s Young Mothers Incubation Program has served over 200 women with disabilities, empowering them to be active in their communities through entrepreneurship and advocacy.

Deaf children represent a majority of all children with disabilities in Kenya. These children are not only an underserved group of students, but also a distinct language minority that uses Kenyan Sign Language as their native language.

In 2010, Kenya faced a severe learning challenge. While nationally education received significant funding (23.7 percent of the government expenditure), the majority of funds went to salaries.