High Commissioner of Kenya on hand as education students leave for international field practicum
As 14 StFX education students and two recent grads readied to leave for Kenya for six weeks of international field experience, no less than the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Canada was on hand to wish them well in their teaching experience.
His Excellency, Simon Nabukwesi, who is also the Ambassador to Cuba, was on hand at StFX on March 5 to speak with faculty, staff, students and guests, and to present visas to the students going to Kenya with education professor Dr. Bosire Monari Mwebi.
This is the second time Dr. Mwebi has led a delegation of education students to his native Kenya.
“Our Canadian classrooms are becoming more diverse. It’s important for teachers to have a cross-cultural experience, that they can bring that to support their teaching,” he says.
The students agree. Not only is the trip self-funded, the two grads, teachers now, are in fact taking an education leave from their jobs in the local school board to participate.
The group will teach in Grade 9-12 classrooms from March 6-April 19.
“This trip will have a profound impact on my career in teaching,” says education student Kyle Andrew Sarka. “To be in a place like Kenya and to be able to dive into something as special as their education system is something that will change the way I think about teaching in general.”
Mr. Sarka says his sister had a similar experience in Kenya, and he was thrilled to learn he’d have an opportunity from StFX. “Her experience was priceless so when she found out that I had the potential to go I jumped on board.”
As a social studies teacher, Mr. Sarka says the fact that he has had the opportunity to teach in an international setting is something that brings a real experience to discussions and lessons.
“Also, I am sure I will learn lessons both in and out of the classroom there that will help solidify my teaching philosophy. It is a very special experience and I am sure I will draw on it for the rest of my career.”
Sherrill Lindsay, a teacher from Pictou Academy, will be part of the Kenya field experience, and she says the students from Nairobi will be linking with her Canadian classroom. “This cross-cultural connection among not only teachers but students brings a new synergy to education and more specifically sexual health education. I am excited to have my students connect with the Nairobi school through an online Moodle and research and discuss real, useful information from within the classroom but truly of use outside of the classroom. As a teacher this is very gratifying to teach relevant information and have the students produce their own resource.
“The personal experience speaks for itself. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, perhaps. I have wanted to teach in an African school for many years and now my life long dream is coming true. The bonus is the professor, Bo and 14 pre-service teachers and a graduate studies teacher all having the same desire in common. A truly unique experience.”