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Drama and film instructors hired by schools to coach learners should also be recommended for training to ensure quality, relevance and moral standing.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ong’ondo said these three areas should be critically looked into if the festival is to be considered a curriculum activity, which include content, materials and implementers.

“The drama and film items produced should conform to the learning outcomes of the participating learners,” said Ong’ondo, when he officiated the Nairobi Region Drama and Film Gala Festival at Dagoretti High School,

Ong’ondo said Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) emphasises the practical application of knowledge, thus drama and film festivals allow learners to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations.

Saying that learners demonstrate their understanding of language, culture, and social issues as they perform on stage, the CEO also stated that the festivals foster holistic development, language expression, and cultural understanding as integral parts of the acquisition of skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes by learners in the 21st century.

He further said stage performance provides learners with opportunities to showcase their talents, creativity, and skills beyond academics in line with CBC mission, which is ‘nurturing every learner’s potential’.

“Learners can explore their talents through participation in various forms, including mimes, verses, dances, theatre, and plays. It is in these areas that learners develop critical competencies beyond subject-specific knowledge,” said Ong’ondo.

The competencies are communication and collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and imagination and citizenship.