The objective of this paper is to explore and analyze the role of mentoring in improving teacher development as a tool of Continuing Professional Development in the achievement of vision 2030.This has been necessitated by the aim of Kenya vision 2030 that strives in making the country globally competitive and prosperous with a high quality of life. This aim can be achieved when the current education system realizes that the trial and era teaching and take it or leave it professional development programmes are no longer acceptable. This has been necessitated by the diverse compositions of student population, changing paradigms in teaching and learning together with the changing expectations about the quality of education that are occurring at an unexpected rates. Teacher training is more than the mastery of certain practical knowledge, pedagogical skills and techniques. Therefore, CPD through mentoring plays an important role in teacher improvement geared towards classroom practices. This paper has highlighted the plight of secondary school teachers and the need for teachers to be involved in CPD. The methodology involved a vertical case mixed study approach design that involved analysis of macro and micro aspects using quantitative and qualitative techniques in the collection of data. Twelve secondary schools in Kirinyaga County were sampled for the survey while six others were subjected to an in-depth casestudy. The data analyzed indicated the importance of mentoring and involvement of other stakeholders in provision of CPD as laid out by the education policies. As the study indicates, there are several challenges‘ that are experienced by teachers in their quest for mentoring. In the light of these findings, mentoring of teachers can play an important role in improvement of classroom practices and the school as a whole. For the attainment of Vision 2030 teachers should be supported at the school level so that they can participate in and complete the programmes of mentoring that take place especially where young and newly recruited teachers are involved.

The Kenya Vision 2030 identifies science, technology and innovation as key drivers in creating wealth, social welfare and international competitiveness. In recognition of the role of technology in achieving Vision 2030, the government pledged to strengthen technical capabilities by emphasising technological learning at all levels. The vision affirmed that it is only through an educated and skilled manpower that Kenya will be able to create, share and utilise knowledge well. To produce a workforce capable of fitting into the knowledge driven society, training of teachers in Primary Teachers Colleges was to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning. The government carefully prepared ICT policies to guide the use of ICTs in teaching and learning as a proper way of imparting in teacher trainees the skills needed for preparing learners with the right training. Among the policies was providing extensive training to tutors on use of ICTs in teaching and learning. The study analysed the implementation of this policy in Primary Teachers Colleges. The analysis sought to find out whether and what gaps exist between the stated government policy designed to guide use of ICTs in teaching and learning and the actual practice during the implementation process. The study sites were four PTCs in Kenya offering certificate courses commonly known as P1 colleges. These were three public PTCs and one private college targeting college heads, deans of curriculum, tutors, students and Ministry of Education officials. The study applied multiple case study design in soliciting views, perceptions, opinions and experiences regarding implementation of government ICT policies. A combination of research instruments were used in collecting the data. These included:- questionnaires, interviews and observation schedules. The data was analysed both  qualitatively and quantitatively using SPSS. The study findings established that there were a number of inconsistencies in the implementation of government policies on use of ICTs in teaching and learning and the actual practice during the implementation process. Although the policy required that lecturers at PTCs were to attend ICT in-service training to integrate ICT in classroom teaching, 53.8% of the teaching staff had not attended any in-service training on use of ICT in teaching and learning. The study concludes that the identified inconsistencies in the use of ICT skills of tutors had impacted negatively on the preparation of primary teachers with competencies in ICT use, hence undermining the realisation of Vision 2030. Therefore the study recommends establishment of partnership between the government, private sector and the PTCs to equip the tutors with the necessary and relevant ICT training to allow integration of ICT in teaching and learning.

The objective of this study was to explore and analyse provision of information to secondary school teachers’ in their endeavour to participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In the current educational era, the trial and error teaching, and take it or leave it professional development programmes are no longer acceptable. In this respect, teacher training entails more than the mastery of certain practical knowledge, pedagogical skills, and techniques. Therefore, CPD plays an important role in teacher development geared towards classroom improvement. This paper highlights the need for secondary school teachers to be provided with information about CPD. This is significant in that CPD is hoped to provide a basis for teacher professional improvement discussion in Kirinyaga County. CPD will lead to constructive discussions by appropriate education experts in Kenya on vital professional development challenges that involve provision of information. Hopefully, CPD would stimulate educational research geared towards secondary school teacher improvement. The methodology used entailed a mixed method study design that involved analysis of macro and micro aspects using quantitative and qualitative techniques in the collection of data. A vertical case study method was used in sampling of twelve secondary schools in Kirinyaga County. The sampled schools were further subjected to a survey method where questionnaires were administered to teachers while six others were subjected to an in-depth case study involving teachers and principals. In the schools where case study was used, data was collected using in-depth interviews with principals and teachers. Teachers were further subjected to Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The data collected was analysed qualitatively, though quantitative data was used for clarification where it was found necessary. The study found out that there is disparity on information provision from the different groups of people expected to provide critical information to teachers. Teachers need to be provided with information on CPD so that they can improve their professional status geared to classroom practices. The limitation of this study is that the findings could not be generalized to other schools and regions within the country without modification.

Girls' education has been hindered by several socio-cultural factors such as household chores, early marriages, teenage pregnancies and poverty which adversely affect access to basic amenities such as sanitary towels. These challenges bring about gender disparities in education. The government of Kenya is committed to end this disparity by ensuring equity of access and participation of all girls and boys in education. This is evidenced through education policies in place such as the Government's Sanitary Towels Initiative (GSTI) whose aim is to minimize barriers to education for girls and put them at par with the boys. This study sought to look at the trends in the provision of sanitary towels and the strategies for the sustainability of such provision in improving education in Kuresoi South subcounty, Nakuru County, Kenya. The study employed Descriptive Survey design; stratified random sampling and purposive sampling was useful in selecting schools and principals respectively. Simple random sampling was useful to draw class teachers and secondary school girls from the target population. Questionnaires for students, interview schedules for principals and class teachers and document analysis are the research instruments that were used to collect data. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study findings revealed that GSTI is not adequate despite existing policies. The study also established that the following strategies if implemented would ensure the sustainability of this initiative. There is need for adequate funding, clearer policies, constant supply through the year and increase in quality of the sanitary towels. Access to information on menstrual health and management is also very important. These findings are envisioned to be beneficial to all the education stakeholders not only in Kenya but also internationally, as an eye-opener on the need of interventions to ensure equity of educational access and participation for both boys and girls.

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