Magoha urges teachers to adopt practical methods of teaching
By Eric Juma, July 16, 2022
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof George Magoha has called on teachers to adopt practical methods of teaching.
This, he said, will enable students to have adequate practical knowledge to not only apply when doing exams but also fit into the job market immediately after graduation.
Magoha, while inspecting Phase Two CBC projects at Obambo, Siaya Township, and Mbaga secondary schools in Siaya noted that inadequate use of practical methods in teaching is encouraging what he termed as “chew and pour”.
He explained that the traditional way of learning where emphasis is placed on memorizing facts with little attention to getting students to understand the subjects through practical learning, should be critically examined.
Magoha, who was accompanied by Regional Education Director Edwin Sifuna, Alego/Usonga TSC director Richard Obonyo and Siaya County Commissioner Jim Njoka, called on teachers to constantly upgrade themselves to enable them to teach well.
Magoha asks teachers to undergo in-service trainings
He, however, asked institutional heads to intensify in-service training for teachers to assess them professionally.
He challenged students to be up to their responsibilities by studying harder through the effective usage of practical methods to broaden their learning skills to excel in their academic endeavors.
Magoha noted that the country has the best teachers, especially at the primary level who does the CBC while the teachers on 8-4-4 system are drilling their learners to pass exams.
“I want the teachers to rethink on how they teach their learners adding those teaching topics li9ke photosynthesis must go with the students to the bush and practically engage them on the processes while touching the plants,” Magoha said.
He added: “If you go 8-4-4 system where a student puts the leg in cold water and crams the theories related to photosynthesis it won’t help the learners.
“The exams would call for contextualizing issues in fact our schools must purchase daily newspapers for the learners as most questions would come from there.”
Magoha made the remarks at Obambo Secondary where he regretted that a Form Four candidate could not contextualize whatever she leant in class.
The candidate at Obambo failed to answer simple questions in regards to the process plant uses to make its foods and products involved,” Magoha said, adding that even digestion details are difficult for her to respond to yet exams are just around the corner.