Strathmore University Foundation (SUF) held an inaugural Education Dialogue Programme on March 10, 2026, bringing together partners and stakeholders across the education sector to reflect on the evolving education landscape in Kenya. The forum served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and shared reflection on the changes shaping the future of learning and how institutions can collectively respond.
The event convened partners, including Tuendelee Foundation, Kianda Foundation, ChildFund, KCB Foundation, Eastlands College of Technology, John Paul II Secondary School, Academia School, Oasis Mixed School, New Horizons School, Ushirika School, and St. Michaels School. Internally, representatives from the University’s Community Service Centre, Financial Aid Office, and Teacher Enhancement Programme also participated.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Edward Mungai, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning and Development, emphasized the importance of awareness and shared responsibility in addressing the challenges facing the education sector.“Many of the challenges the education sector is going through are because of a lack of awareness,” he noted. “We don’t want to be the only ones driving this conversation on education. We invite you to be the ones triggering these conversations that affect education.”
He also encouraged partners to actively contribute ideas that could shape future dialogues, noting, “If you think of any topics that would interest you and improve education in our schools, feel free to suggest them to us.”
A key theme during the dialogue was the significant transformation currently underway in Kenya’s education system, particularly the transition toward a Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework. Mr. Ian Wairua, Associate Director, Center for Teaching Excellence, reflected on the broader implications of these shifts for universities. “We are experiencing monumental shifts,” he noted. “There is a duality and transition happening across the education system.”
As universities prepare for these changes, Wairua emphasized the need for greater clarity and collaboration between secondary schools and higher education institutions. “Universities must be able to tell us what programmes they have for these students,” he said. “Are we turning a four-year course into a three-year course? These are the conversations that need clarity.”
He also pointed to the importance of data in guiding institutional planning. “There is still a lack of clarity, and we are closely watching the data from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). That data will guide the programmes that universities will offer.”
At Strathmore University, preparations are already underway to align academic programmes with the evolving education system. The University is developing strategies for change management, defining competencies, aligning programmes with professional standards, and designing new courses that respond to emerging needs. Technology and innovation are also central to these plans, though University leaders emphasize the importance of maintaining human-centered education. “As much as Strathmore wants to embrace technology, we aim to produce authentic human beings,” he noted. “That is why we are integrating artificial intelligence as part of our broader academic plan.”
Mr. Wairua also highlighted stakeholder engagement as critical to the success of these reforms. “We want greater stakeholder engagement, not just involvement,” he said. “Through our Teacher Enhancement Programme engagements, we recognize that we cannot move to the competency-based system without bringing other stakeholders along. Parental engagement has a direct impact on the lives of students,” Wairua observed.
He further discussed the evolving nature of the global workforce and the need for universities to prepare students for a more digital and interconnected world. Initiatives such as blended learning models, including Strathmore’s 2+1 teaching approach combining physical and online learning, were highlighted as part of this shift.
The dialogue also featured a presentation highlighting the work of the M-PESA Foundation Academy, a senior secondary school located in Thika that focuses on nurturing future leaders. The presentation was delivered by John Kipkemboi, the head of Tertiary Education at the M-PESA Foundation Academy.
Speaking about the academy’s founding vision, Kipkemboi explained that the institution was established to contribute meaningfully to national development. “The academy started to look at how we participate in national development,” he said. “Our academic model is driven by leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation.”
The inaugural Education Dialogue marked the beginning of what Strathmore University Foundation, through its Executive Director, Christine Ochieng, hopes will become a continuous platform for collaboration, learning, and collective action.
“By bringing together educators, foundations, and development partners, the University aims to foster meaningful conversations that shape the future of education in Kenya,” said Mrs. Ochieng.
Article Written by Nekesa Teresa
