Alef Education, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and UNICEF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate climate change education into the curriculum in public schools across Kenya.
The MoU establishes a structure for collaboration between the three organisations to develop and deliver a climate education course that complements the existing school curriculum developed by KICD under the guidance of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
The content will be delivered through KICD’s Kenya Education Cloud platform, which is a nationwide digital learning initiative that connects schools to education and learning resources.
Alef Education, a K-12 EdTech company headquartered in the UAE, provides digital content for climate education, including educational videos, quizzes, and interactive materials on carbon literacy.
The content, the company explained, is designed to equip learners and educators with the tools they need to understand and address the complexities of climate change, it was shared.
Commenting on the agreement, Prof. Charles Ochieng Ong’ondo, CEO of KICD, said that leveraging the available digital platform and integrating climate change education into the curriculum is a “critical step” in building a sustainable society.
“To ensure widespread access and impact, KICD will integrate the content into the Kenya Education Cloud, making it readily available to learners and teachers across Kenya,” KICD’s CEO.
Geoffrey Alphonso, CEO of Alef Education, commented: “Education is the key to a sustainable future. We aim to give young people a deep understanding of climate change and inspire them to take concrete steps towards a greener and more sustainable future. We believe that technology is the catalyst for this change. We can equip young generations with the knowledge and skills to address climate change. In this way, the next generation will become responsible global citizens who actively contribute to preserving our planet and creating a better future for all.”
Meanwhile, Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF Country Representative, noted that while children are the least responsible for the climate crisis, they bear the brunt of its impact.
Indeed, data from UNICEF found that, across the world, an estimated one billion children live in countries that are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis.
“By integrating climate change education into the curriculum, we are not only equipping children with knowledge but also empowering them to become change agents for a more resilient Kenya. UNICEF, through its school connectivity programmes, will continue giving access to this climate education content to some of the most vulnerable learners in hard-to-reach areas of the country,” said Nilofer.