Consultancy: To Carry Out a Baseline Survey to Establish the Status of Uptake and Practice of National Values and Ethos in Schools

Published · Updated

1.0 About the Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO)
CRECO is a Consortium of civil society organizations working for a just society. In Kenya, CRECO has become synonymous with Civic Education for Constitution Awareness and Reforms and particularly working in the areas of Civil Society Coordination and Strengthening, and Research, Documentation and Dissemination since 1998. CRECO’s membership comprises of 22 CSOs united in the vision of a just society and drawn from both urban and rural-based NGOs working across 47 counties of Kenya. For more information, please visit www.crecokenya.org.

2.0 Background
Demand for adherence and compliance to Article 10 of the Constitution is the only way to dismantle bad governance. Education in Kenya is meant at preparing the learners for valuable living conditions within society and engaging in sustainable development. To live a valuable life and contribute to the social, economic and political development of our country, the appropriate skills, values, attitudes, knowledge and competencies must be impacted into the individual. Currently, there is deficit in practice of national values in primary schools. Consequently, from 2016 there have been several incidents of schools burned down by students. The primary responsibility for inculcating values rests with parents and the community, but education too has an important role to play in this regard. The Basic Education Framework recognizes that values are important to the socio-economic development and stability of the country, in the same way that competencies in academics are important.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 envisages a nation that enjoys a strong national identity, observes, and respects the Bill of Rights, has effective representation and leadership of the people, ensures equitable allocation of resources and opportunities, and adheres to the principles of good governance while prioritizing sustainable development. In so doing, the reformed curriculum seeks to ensure that the next and future generations of Kenyan citizens shall be both patriotic and global, equipped with the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values to thrive in the modern world, confident about their proud and rich cultural heritage and contributing this heritage to make the world a better place for everyone. However, the basic education hasn’t promoted acquisition of national values as enshrined in the Kenya Constitution. Many public policy analysts and members of the public have blamed school children’s bad behaviors to
lackadaisical parenting. Parents should rally themselves towards developing a self-disciplined and ethical citizen with sound moral and religious values. Although the values stated in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and are envisioned in the curriculum, much needs to be done in implementation to see such indiscipline issues such as cheating in exams, corruption, truancy, sexual offence, vandalism, terrorism, tribalism, and other destructive practices in schools are eradicated and hard work and inter-coexistence be inculcated appropriately as a response to the societal needs and interests.

In conclusion, Kenya’s main developmental and governance challenges are exacerbated by failure to practice values and ethos; negative campaigning for inclusion in societal socio-economic spaces, spread of fake news and disinformation online. We have legislated on values instead of inculcating them in ourselves and our children and the existing governance infrastructure has no mechanism or political will for instilling them. The combat against COVID-19 required being armed with national values and principles of governance more than procuring personal protective equipment (PPEs) and using the police officers to enforce measures put in place by the Government. The pandemic has reminded us that we all deserve to be treated equally and have the same basic rights. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what language you speak, or your cultural background. At the start of the spread of COVID-19, Kenyan authorities ‘appeared’ more concerned with prosecuting those who share information that damages its reputation and legitimacy1 as opposed dealing with the spread of misinformation about COVID-19.

3.0 Purpose of the survey
The purpose of the survey will be to examine the most frequent challenges undermining uptake and practice of national values and ethos in schools.

4.0 Methodology
CRECO with the consultant will deliberately map different composition of primary schools: schools for the children with special needs, Day and Boarding mixed public schools, private day and boarding mixed schools, mixed day public schools and religious schools.
Specifically, the baseline will inform on the content of engagement with Government decision makers in the education sector, pupils, school managers, teachers, and parents. The schools will be mapped from Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado and Kiambu Counties.

5.0 Deliverables
The scope of work shall be guided by the objectives as outlined above. The consultants will undertake the following tasks:

  • A desktop review of national daily newspapers review, journals, government press statements and annual reports, trade union press statements and key informant interviews with relevant government departments as well as key civil society and community-based organizations.
  • Compile a preliminary report and share during a stakeholders’ introductory meetings convened by CRECO.
  •  Identification of measures and assessment of the level of what and how communities, schools, civil society, and government can work together towards realization of effective implementation of the National Values and Ethos
  • Document the findings, prepare and present both soft and hard copies in a report to CRECO;
  • Present the findings in stakeholders’ validation meetings as may be required.

6.0 Time Frame
The time frame for undertaking the consultancy is 15 (Fifteen) working days.

7.0 Qualifications and desired expertise

  • At least five years’ experience in issues of the Education sector service delivery and management.
  •  At least five years’ knowledge of latest methods of social and technological applications in Education in service delivery;
  • Experience in donor funded assignments;
  • Demonstrated experience in human rights (with a bias to education) also specific expertise on gender issues, and governance would be an asset;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of working in the 4 mentioned counties i.e Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado and Kiambu Counties
  • Experience of writing similar publications, as well as monitoring and documenting and knowledge of social audit methodologies;
  • Should be knowledgeable on the current state of affairs in the area of research;
  • Demonstrated experience in working to deadlines and achieve research project requirements to the satisfaction of CRECO;
  • Proven report – writing skills in English;
  • Candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English and Kiswahili

8.0 Application requirements and procedure
Proposals should cover methodology, an indication of likely interviewees, a work-plan and an indicative budget and should be submitted via email or hard copy to info@crecokenya.org no later than 10th September 2021.
Consultants wishing to tender for this work must submit:

  • A cover letter explaining their reasons for applying and their understanding of the task at hand- An
    expression of interest explaining the reasons for applying, the applicant’s understanding of the
    subject matter,
  • A schedule of how the tasks will be done within the proposed time frame and the methodology of
    how they intend to do the work,
  • Proposed budget for the assignment;
  • A curricula vitae outlining relevant skills and experience to meet the tender requirements;
  • Contacts of three referees whom you have done similar work for the past 3 years; ¦ Any time limitations or constraints to your availability during the tender period.

9.0 Submission of application
Qualified applicants should submit their EOI documents (in PDF format), clearly marked EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES- EOI/08/2021- TO CARRY OUT A BASELINE SURVEY TO ESTABLISH THE STATUS OF UPTAKE AND PRACTICE OF NATIONAL VALUES AND ETHOS IN SCHOOLS on or before 10th September 2021 to via e-mail or Courier.
The Executive Secretary,
Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO)
Matumbato Road, Off Upper Hill Road
P.O. Box 2231-00200, Nairobi.
info@crecokenya.org

You may also like...