Kenyan Award-winning Friar Appreciates Opportunity “to compare notes” at New York Summit

The 2019 Global Teacher Prize winner and Maggie MacDonnell who won the prize in 2017 were invited to represent teachers at the summit.

According to the Franciscan Friar, talks at the conference stressed the importance of “nurturing learners holistically rather than focusing on academic grades.”

“In Kenya, we have had the challenge of measuring a learner's capability in terms of their grades. But there is need to appreciate that learners have varied strengths and therefore the need to pay attention to every learner's individual needs,” Br. Tabichi who teaches at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Kenya’s Rift Valley said.

The Franciscan Friar has received wide recognition for his exemplary teaching skills. He became the first African to win the coveted teachers’ prize and was last year crowned 2019 UN Person of the Year in Kenya.

The Franciscan Brother was also recognized for his determination and hard work in promoting education and promoting achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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While announcing the Global Teacher Prize 2019 winner, globalteacherprize.org referred to Br. Tabichi as a selfless teacher.

“Peter Tabichi is a science teacher who gives away 80 percent of his monthly income to help the poor. His dedication, hard work and passionate belief in his student’s talent has led his poorly-resourced school in remote rural Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions,” read the message on globalteacherprize.org.

He was further acclaimed for breathing life to the deprived Kenyan school where 95 per cent of the pupils reportedly came from poor families. He combines his top-notch teaching skills with charity, nurturing the pupils according to their strengths.

The 38-year-old Franciscan started a talent-nurturing club and expanded the school’s Science Club, helping pupils design research projects of such quality that 60 percent now qualify for national competitions.

Teacher Tabichi said last week’s New York conference inspired him to do even more for the pupils and teachers he interacts with.

“I have a set of skills that I have always used in the execution of my responsibilities as a teacher. I am now inspired to share them with other teachers so that we may make the impact of a good teacher, felt by large populations,” said Br. Tabichi.

He added, “I am especially passionate about the most vulnerable learners especially those in refugee camps and the challenge they face in their effort to access education. I also think about the challenges that girls face as they compete in the same space with their male counterparts.”

Having participated in the second International Education Day Summit 2020, an event organized by the UN General Assembly’s Office of the President in collaboration with UNESCO as well as other Permanent Missions of UN member states in view of strengthening a “collective action for education,” Br. Tabichi expressed the intention to reach out to the relevant education entities in his country that can facilitate inclusivity in matters formal education.

I need  “to rethink the plans I have for my career,” he said and explained, “Not just at an individual level but by working with other teachers and if possible, education stakeholders in Kenya to strategize on the best way to integrate the most vulnerable learners as we aim to achieve inclusivity.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.