Meeting Demands of Vision 2030 and Globalisation: Some Reforms and Innovations Necessary in Curriculum under Kenyan Sky

The current world is operating in an economy that values creativity and innovation for scientific and technological development. The future seems to be destined for cutting edge research, technology and global competitiveness for the scarce resources. Achieving and sustaining such growth is dependent on robust education and skills development systems that upgrade creativity, innovations and problem solving skills in our youth. In this endeavour, transforming the curriculum to meet the demands of vision 2030 and millennium development goals (MDG’s) become critical under the Kenyan sky. This paper presents and discusses some of the reforms necessary in the Kenyan curriculum that could enable the country transform herself to an economy that is capable of competing at the global level. Keywords: Teacher education, curriculum, creativity, innovativeness, technological developmen

On collaboration: an important skill for Mathematics educators for the 21st century

Paper presented at the 3rd Strathmore International Mathematics Conference (SIMC 2015), 3 - 7 August 2015, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.Mathematics, problem solving, and critical-thinking are key skills to innovation. Not only does the 21st century workforce require mathematics skills for success in everyday life but also for scientific advancement and technological development so as to enhance global competitiveness. Since teaching as an individual process in the 21st century classroom is no longer effective, mathematics educators should embrace practices that foster 21st century skills to their learners. Collaboration is a key skill that not only empowers teachers of mathematics in handling the bigger challenges of the 21st century education but also enables students to succeed in today's world. When we think about collaboration, many different types exist. Most of all major turning points in our history were motivated by a collaborative effort. With any new teacher entering the profession, one needs a mentor to help guide us through the first years of the profession. This is where collaborations start. However, collaborations in education should never stop and should always be on going, as there is always something new to learn. This presentation will outline why collaboration in education is important for both the mathematics educator and student. In addition, the presenters will also outline personal examples of collaborations and provide some ideas on how to obtain and maintain collaborators. This, we believe, can help prepare educators and learners for the challenges in life ahead