Educational Inequality and Regional Disparities: Institutional Reforms and Their Impact

[2C207] Education Reform and "Educational Enthusiasm" in Kenya: Focusing on the Perceptions of Parents and Teachers

*Nanaka YAMAGUCHI¹ (1. Osaka University)

Keywords:Kenya, Educational Enthusiasm, Education Reform, Curriculum, Education System

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of parents and teachers regarding the ongoing educational reforms in Kenya and to examine the impact of these reforms on people's "educational enthusiasm". The two research questions are: 1) What are parents' and teachers' perceptions of the educational reforms, and 2) What impact do the educational reforms have on parents' and teachers' expectations of school education (educational enthusiasm)? In Kenya, changes in the education system and curriculum reform (introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum: CBC) are currently being implemented simultaneously. However, the reforms, which have been carried out without a clear vision for the future, have caused a lot of confusion in the field. In particular, the introduction of the CBC has caused a shortage of equipment, the number of teachers, and teacher training at schools, and an excessive burden on teachers and parents at home, as they are required to be actively involved in their children's homework assignments and bear a financial burden. Local news reports also cite cases in which parents who became dissatisfied with the CBC have triggered lawsuits. There is also concern about the impact on teachers and parents of the abolition of national examinations due to changes in the education system. In Kenya, having students achieve high scores in the national examinations was linked to the expectations teachers and parents had for school education (educational enthusiasm). However, some previous studies have reported cases in which the abolition of the national examinations has led to a decline in teacher motivation, and the impact of the system change on educational enthusiasm cannot be overlooked. Until now, school management in Kenya has been greatly supported by the educational enthusiasm of teachers and parents. The ongoing educational reforms are likely to cause a “swing” in the educational enthusiasm of teachers and parents, and may change their perceptions of school education as well. This study attempts to clarify teachers' and parents' perceptions of school education under the educational reform, and to examine the effects of the educational reform on people's “enthusiasm for education. This presentation will be discussed based on data collected through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents in primary schools, which will be conducted for two weeks in September 2024.