Education Kenya Project #16680

Support Teachers to Educate 200 Children Monthly

by Acres of Mercy, Kenya

Project Report | Dec 31, 2025
The Gift of Teacher!

By JImmy Oluoch | Project Leader

A teacher supports her children in classroom work

Friends, partners,

As we celebrated and rested during the December holiday season, I could not fail to appreciate the amazing gifts that dedicated and caring teachers are to the children they serve! They are precious! This year you and I in whatever capacity gave the gift of teachers to the children at Acres of Mercy Learning Centre. And we tried our best to always ensure they come wrapped up, ready, and able to bring joy and fulfillment to the children! This is why we continue investing in their growth and well-being. The last half of the year was no different as we poured ourselves in the teachers.

Teacher training and development was forefront in keeping with two of our core values namely, Ever-learning and Growth Mindset. We had two in-house teacher development sessions, in August and in November with a big focus on Effective Classroom Management, Student Mentorship and Effective Curriculum Implementation, including developing a vision for learning and teaching, teaching children executive functioning skills, and Brain-based teaching. Teachers also underwent a review and actioning of the School Improvement Plan.

In these sessions, teachers grew in their ability to embrace and implement competency-based education.Teachers invested over 80 hours of discussions, group and individual planning, reflection and fun over a ten-day period between November 11^th and 24^th. We had 13 teachers, three staff members, 1 intern and 2 support staff being part of the sessions.

Three of the staff members had by the 30^th of December transitioned to other organizations. Our Principal had also transitioned to a TSC posting with the school having an interim Head of Institution. As we prepare for the 2026 school season, we know we will serve the children better, having recruited three new teachers in each of the three sections, namely Early Years, Middle School and Junior School.

Thank you for your continued giving as we support those who make learning happen in our schools- the teachers. Indeed we look forward to an amazing year 2026!

Teacher taking learners through the paces

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Jun 25, 2025
Supporting Teachers to Lift Up Children

By Jimmy Oluoch | Project Leader

The principal celebrating one of our staff members

Dear friends and partners,

We have successfully completed the first half of the second term. Our teachers have done well by sustaining learning and teaching from the month of February through to the first half of the second term. Our Teacher-to-Student Ratio has remained healthy. We currently have 14 teachers against a student population of 115. This is an average student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1. Through the two terms, we have continued to support staff development.

Staff Support & Training

In the preceding weeks between February and June, our staff have undergone various trainings to help them deliver the Competency-Based Education Curriculum. Most of these trainings were conducted by the Ministry of Education. The goal was to empower teachers to support Junior School learners in selecting their career pathways.

Parents, learners, and their teachers are to collaboratively choose pathways in either STEM, Arts & Sports Sciences, or Social Sciences. These three pathways have different tracks and subject combinations. Learners' interests, abilities, and personalities are to be considered during this selection process and thus require a concerted effort from all the required stakeholders.

We are still working on informal sessions that will help teachers develop new mental models to help them deliver on the Competency-Based Education.

Staff Welfare

Staff who had their birthdays in the first quarter of the year were celebrated.

Staff Motivation

While increased statutory deductions have diminished staff salaries, they have remained understanding and positive. The organization is still working on alternative third-stream incomes and fundraising activities to help bridge the $600-a-month gap.

Challenges

While the Israeli-Iran conflict can affect economies negatively, we are hopeful that we will be able to weather the storm together.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we anchor, lift, and ignite children through quality education and care.

A teacher and her class

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Feb 25, 2025
Up to a Flying Start

By Jimmy Oluoch | Project Leader

School Library

Dear friends,

The year is quickly moving on and waits for no man! Thank you for moving it forward with us by being our consistent supporter and friend. As we wrap up the second month of the year, here is a sttaus report on the project to support teachers.

Staff Data

2025 has seen our teacher population grow. We started a Grade 9 Junior Secondary School class at the beginning of the year. We have a trained teacher population of 15 staff. 4 teachers serve Junior School, 4 others serve Middle School, 3 teachers serve Lower Primary school and four (4) teachers serve the preschool section. Our average teacher-to-student ratio is 1:8

Teacher Support

Staff training in April and August

Volunteer support for teachers.

We changed the leadership structure to have three Section Heads to support learning at the Section level. The school has three main sections, Pre-School, Lower Primary, Middle School and Junior School Section

Turnover

Low turnover during the year. 100% of teachers who started the year are going to complete a school year with their students, having a positive impact on the relational mindset of teachers

Training

Various in-house training carried out

Staff attended two external training by Longhorn Publishers in partnership with the Machakos County government on the new curriculum targeting Preschool teachers.

The Kenya Private Schools Association hosted headteachers for training on the transition from Junior School to Senior school, including assessments.

Retention

We renegotiated with staff to stay on with the school at similar remuneration even though the economic conditions have been unfavourable for salary increments.

Gaps & Challenges

Grade 9 still needs $600 in monthly recurrent funding to ensure we continue providing quality education to learners by retaining and motivating qualified staff.

Transitioning to CBC requires a lot of staff development to help staff develop new mental models to help deliver a constructivist curriculum. This is ongoing.

The Government taxes are set to increase by the end of February 2025. Net salaries will once again diminish. This has resulted in reduced staff net salaries. Inflation has continued to erode take-home remuneration.

Teachers also need support in terms of mental health and wellness because a happy teacher translates to a happy family.

As our partners, please consider doubling giving to this project as we reach out to many children for the rest of the year.

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