Experiencing Citizen- Led Assessment at the foot of Mount Kenya

The 2017 new staff induction at the Peoples Action for Learning Network (PAL Network), involved training on Citizen-Led Assessments (CLAs). The training had both theory and practice sessions. The theory session involved understanding the genesis and processes of CLAs, the role played by PAL Network as well as training on how to assess the basic literacy and numeracy skills of children. The practical session on the other hand involved actual assessment of children in the households. We set out for the practical session in three teams on the 21^st of January 2017, my team assigned to Kiriogo village. Getting into Kiriogo village, we could see the Aberdare ranges forming the horizon, making such beautiful scenery. We met the village elder and our guide for the day Mr. Jackson waiting for us near Kiriogo shopping Centre. As we walked with the village elder Mr. Jackson to the first household for the day, I could not help but wonder how the people of Kiriogo farmed. The area was green with maize doing well in the fields yet this time of the year was dry in most parts of Kenya.

We met Mama Mwaura at home taking a cup of tea. She welcomed us warmly and after introductions, we got permission to assess the children. Her four children were able to read thought they were at different levels. Mama Mwaura was happy with the progress of her children and as we finalized, she went ahead to engage the village elder in their local language about her own education. We learnt that her desire had been to continue with her own education but was not able to due to lack of school fees. Mr. Jackson however quickly interrupted in Swahili, “saa hii umezeeka na huwezi kurudi shule. Sasa ni kusomesha tu watoto wako,” telling her that her age would not allow her to go back to school and all she could do was educate her children. This kept me thinking of the privileges that people have. Mama Mwaura did not have an opportunity to complete her education but could try and have this done through her children. But what else does the society offer? Perhaps, if there were adult literacy classes near her, Mama Mwaura would have enrolled in one and furthered her education.

The last household we visited had only one child to be assessed. We were glad to meet the girl who had given us directions to our meeting place with Mr. Jackson. Wanjiru (nicknamed Ciru) was great to interact with. She spoke with such confidence and always glanced at her mother for approval. Mama Ciru knew her child very well, each time giggling as they glanced at each other in the course of the assessment. Ciru had just enrolled in class two and the assessment we gave was at class two level, meaning a child who had completed class 2 should have been able to complete all the aspects of the test. While reading through an English story, she easily identified words that were new to her and with a smile, skipped to the next word as she said, “hiyo hatujafanya!” (We have not learnt that yet).

Numeracy was different as once at multiplication, she was able to identify whole numbers, perform addition and subtraction easily. Multiplication was the most interesting to her as she was just learning the multiplication table, which was displayed one of the walls in the house. Ciru looked up at her mother and turned to the wall behind her, quickly getting one sum and noting down the answer as she giggled. Mama Ciru quickly pointed out to her that she had forgotten what they had been learning together! Ciru just laughed and could not continue without looking at the chart on the wall. It was interesting to learn from Mama Ciru that she knew Ciru well. She was aware that Ciru was hyperactive and would at times miss out on sums due to the fact that she rushed through her work, and Mama Ciru had discussed this with her teachers. To help her, she always went through her work and especially what she had not been able to get right and Ciru would always know the answer. The assessment experience with Ciru and her mother got me thinking: Just how much do we parents really understand our children?

That day was also a learning moment for Ciru. She got to know a little more about her mother. Before assessing a child the CLAs entail collecting other household indicators, including the level of education of the mother of the child being assessed. For Ciru, she had always known that her mother had been to college. On learning that she had only gotten to class eight, she could not help but laugh. Mr. Jackson as before jumped in, “Huoni vile watu wamefika university wanakaa?” (Can’t you see how people who have been to university look like?), referring to my colleague and I. Ciru exchanged glances with her mother and continued to laugh. For her the realization was amazing. Her mother has always helped her with her schoolwork! They displayed such friendship between them and this made her happier!

Unlike other assessments I have participated in, it was great to have all the children I encountered in Nyandarua being able to read. I look forward to more opportunities to be part of CLAs as there is always something new to learn.