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 Irene Githinji and Seth Mwaniki @MwanikiM

Othaya Girls School principal Jane Kimiti has been crowned the winner of 2020 African Union (AU) Continental Teacher of the Year award. 

She was crowned in an event held on December 21, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Kimiti was crowned the best teacher for her various contributions to the education sector.

Kimiti who teaches History and Christian Religious Education, won the award after beating 50 others.

 “I give God the glory. I am not any better than any teacher in the continent but they chose me to carry the baton.

Imagine the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Secretary personally calling to say I was the winner; it was humbling,” said an ecstatic Kimiti.

TSC Secretary Dr Nancy Macharia congratulated Kimiti for the achievement, saying she had been promoted in line with the commission’s Rewards and Sanctions Policy.

Macharia said the win was a confirmation that Kenya was the home of best teachers.

“Given that our own Peter Tabichi emerged the best global teacher in 2018, we are proud of the high caliber of staff that are in our schools,” she said, in a statement.

Kimiti, who comes out as a passionate teacher in giving hope to every child and developing their moral values, said Macharia called her yesterday morning to give her the news.

“I was in a meeting in one of the neighboring schools on Covid-19 protocols and I received the call.

It was exciting. TSC has walked with me in this journey that started in March when they told me they had nominated me for the prize,” she said.

Each AU member country is expected to submit two names of teachers, male and female, to compete annually, with Kimiti saying they were taken through rigorous virtual sessions.

Kimiti said AU Secretariat called her on December 17, for a virtual session, which was intended to give her an opportunity to prove suitability to win.

 “This certificate is awarded to Jane Kimiti for being a winner of the AU Continental Teacher Prize 2020,” said Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology at the AU Commission Prof Sarah Anyang Agbor Prof Anyang, who signed the certificate dated December 21.

Prof Anyang said Kimiti was awarded for engaging in quality teaching, which results in high standards of student achievement.