KICD bags Africa's Top Curriculum award as it pushes AI integration in teacher education

KICD bags Africa's Top Curriculum award as it pushes AI integration in teacher education

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The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has earned continental recognition after being named Africa Curriculum Development Institution of the Year, as it steps up efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teacher education and curriculum implementation.

The award was presented during the 7th Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA) held in Accra, Ghana, recognising the institute's work in curriculum development.

KICD Senior Deputy Director for Educational Media, Eunice Gachoka, received the award on behalf of Chief Executive Officer and Director Prof. Charles Ong'ondo, alongside Senior Curriculum Development Officer Stephen Muhoro.

The recognition comes as the institute intensifies efforts to prepare educators for emerging technologies, including AI, through a national workshop held at its Simba Auditorium in Nairobi.(Education News Kenya -- https://educationnews.co.ke/news/kicd-bags-africas-top-curriculum-award-as-it-pushes-ai-integration-in-teacher-education)

Organised in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the two-day workshop brought together curriculum specialists, teacher educators, practising teachers and other education stakeholders to examine how AI can support teaching, learning and curriculum development.

Opening the forum, Prof. Ong'ondo urged educators to explore AI's potential while maintaining professional judgement and human oversight in the development and use of educational materials.

He emphasised the need to scrutinise and adapt AI-generated content to ensure it meets curriculum requirements and suits the specific needs of learners and teaching environments.

A major focus of the workshop was assessing the quality of AI-generated teaching and learning resources, with participants examining curriculum alignment, accuracy, accessibility, inclusivity and potential bias.

Educators also took part in practical sessions to review, correct and refine AI-generated materials, highlighting the need to ensure that technology supports rather than compromises the quality of education.

Beyond classroom application, the discussions covered copyright, open licensing and data protection, alongside emerging AI tools and their possible role in strengthening teacher education.

Participants further explored the Network for Open Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (NOTES) and developed action plans to guide activities beyond the workshop.

The initiative is part of KICD's broader commitment to promoting responsible AI adoption and expanding access to quality-assured Open Educational Resources (OER) for teachers and teacher educators.

The workshop was coordinated by the institute's project team under the leadership of Deputy Director for Consultancy and Partnerships Dr. Patrick Andika and Senior Principal Curriculum Development Officer Dr. Josphat Miheso, with technical guidance from Dr. Betty Ogange, COL's Education Specialist for Teacher Education.

The continental award and the AI-focused workshop highlight two strands of KICD's work: strengthening curriculum development and exploring new approaches to support educators as Kenya's education sector adapts to technological change.