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Four Catholic School Teachers in Kenya among Tutors Awarded for Exemplary Work

Officials of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and some of the awardees. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Four Catholic School teachers in Kenya are among 31 tutors who have been recognized by their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), for their exemplary work in year 2020. 

The teachers were feted for the improved performance of the schools they manage. Recipients of continental and global awards were also recognised in the Tuesday, October 5 ceremony. 

Sr. Anne Onyancha, a member of the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, was among five primary school head teachers recognized for managing schools that topped the 2020 national examination, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).

Her school, St. Peter's Boys Boarding Primary School Mumias, which is sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega, produced two of the top 20 students in the 2020 KCPE results. 

The Principal of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega-owned St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale, Ms. Rosabella Orwaru, was also awarded for managing one of the most improved institutions in the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results. 

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In May, St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale was listed as the second-most improved school in the 2020 KCSE countrywide after posting a mean score of 9.95 from 6.7 the previous year. 

During the award ceremony that took place on World Teachers’ Day October 5, TSC officals also recognised recipients of regional and global awards. 

Br. Peter Tabichi, the winner of the 2019 Global Teacher Prize who teaches at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School, Pwani in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Nakuru was awarded.

Br. Peter Tabichi and Sr. Anne Onyancha. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The member of the Order of St. Francis (OSF) who was crowned the 2019 United Nations (UN) in Kenya Person of the Year also received the 2020 Ahimsa Award

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His counterpart, Mr. Eric Ademba, a teacher of chemistry and mathematics at Kenya’s Asumbi Girls’ High School, was also recognized by the teachers’ employer in the East African country. 

The teacher of chemistry and mathematics at the Kenyan School run by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (Asumbi Sisters) was the recipient of the 2019 African Union Continental Teacher of the Year award. 

He received the inaugural award for teachers on the continent alongside Sr. Gladyce Kachope who is at the helm of Immaculate Heart Girls’ School in Uganda and Ghanaian Augusta Lartey-Young. 

At the October 5 award ceremony held in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, TSC's Chairperson, Jamleck Muturi, said the teachers have been recognized “for their selflessness.”

“We appreciate and recognize our teachers for their selflessness. A teacher is the greatest player in the life of a learner and this pandemic has indeed shown us how important a teacher is,” Mr. Muturi has been quoted as saying. 

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He also assured the educators that the  Commission will always ensure they work in harmonious environments where accountability and fairness will be applied.

TSC Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, said the process of identifying the awardees was done "in strict conformity to the TSC Performance Recognition, Reward and Sanction Policy Framework.”

“All the 31 teachers will be feted based on the rewards system outlined in this TSC policy – which stresses on meritocracy and detailed due diligence in recognising staff,” Ms. Macharia said. 

The TSC official also recognized the  teachers who have succumbed to COVID-19.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.