A Teacher's Journey In Computer Programming...

In 1995, my first step was to join a non-governmental organization for attachment. I'd never worked with computers before. My supervisor was gracious enough to show me the ropes. And that encounter captivated my heart. Fast forward to my enrollment in the School of Journalism at the University of Nairobi, where we had access to a plethora of computers. Except for exams, we completed all of our work on the computer. I enjoyed working and learning new things. The next step was owning a laptop computer. That was pure heaven! It was a gift following a filming project. In 2002, I turned to education as an administrator at a new school. My dependable laptop was my bosom buddy. And my… what a difference it made.

I was able to immediately streamline the school's processes and begin the automation process. Everything we did was digitized, including class lists, timetables, activity sheets, and progress reports, as well as pay slips and accounts, and we communicated with parents via email rather than hardcopy letters. I became interested in programming in Microsoft Excel and combining it with Microsoft Word.

As the school expanded, it became impossible for me to do everything, particularly the progress reports and the design of teaching and learning materials. We then agreed that teachers would start taking part in the tasks. This was met with some resistance, owing to the fact that many teachers were unfamiliar with computers. We all agreed, however, to learn together. That marked a watershed moment for the school. It became clear that involving all departments in an institution brings unrivalled efficiency. As a result of the diversity of individual strengths and support in our weaknesses, we all grew. We established ourselves as a model school, and many people came to learn from us.

That became my guiding principle: start where you are, involve others, and collaborate to make a difference. With the benefits gained, the school board decided to look for a way to manage all of our departments through a portal, even though we were still doing this automation at a very low level. We contacted several programmers but were unable to articulate our requirements and desires at each stage. Yes, there are many learning management systems on the market, but there is always a need for one that speaks your language. That was the challenging part. As a result, the projects came to a halt. That is when I first considered becoming a programmer. But there was always insufficient time.

God retains His sense of humour. In the year 2020, I noticed that I was gradually losing my ability to continue teaching due to an illness that affected my hearing and mobility, both of which are essential for teaching. In 2022, I decided to retire as a physical educator and go online. This also gave me time to consider my next move. I took a few programming courses online, but something was always missing. Then came the PLP advertisement. I applied and was accepted to study web design, Python, Dart, and databases. My testimony, it has been a very exciting and invigorating time of learning, and I have and continue to have a great time and made many friends!

With that, it was clear that my end-of-course project would be something I had envisioned for years, something that would make a teacher's life easier and more exciting. For starters, it would relieve the burden of professional documents. As a result, Mwalimu Central was created as a repository of professional documents that were already pre-populated with the necessary information from the Curriculum Designs. Teachers would save time manually writing out the information, allowing them to spend more time improving their lessons and interacting with the students.

And that is only the beginning. Better data is needed in education by investors and the government for decisions and policymaking. It is critical that clear information is available at all levels, and much of this information is generated at the school level. This includes school enrollment, staffing distribution, inventories, academic progress records, and optional learning areas offered. All of this is critical in planning. How many schools, for example, offer computer science or performing arts to students in Grade 7? What kind of help will the schools need to succeed? This information will also assist parents in determining where these schools are located, allowing them to make the best decision regarding how to transition their children, including those with special needs. I'm pretty sure that information isn't easily accessible. However, with the right structure, a portal could generate this and much more information.

Success follows as systems and structures improve. And therein lies my dream, my vision: Mwalimu Central will evolve into a system that will have an impact on the entire nation, with accurate data available to all at various levels, from schools to the national government. Where policies that govern the entire country will be based on more accurate data that is faster, easier, and less expensive to collect. Our schools will become centers of excellence for current and future generations, so the investment will be made not only for monetary gain but also for greater social impact!