Characterizing Teacher Struggles and Problem Solving Across Kenyan School Categories

Following the change from the 8-4-4 Education System in Kenya to the CBC Curriculum, teachers in Kenya are facing new and unique problems. This paper provides a glimpse into the multifaceted challenges encountered by K-12 teachers across various types of schools in Kenya. Through a series of focused and insightful focus group discussions in Kisumu, we explored the experiences of K-12 teachers representing a cross-section of school types. Our research unveiled a range of common challenges, as well as those unique to each school category. Teachers grapple with issues of inadequate resources, overcrowded classrooms, and limited access to teaching materials. Furthermore, they face challenges related to curriculum implementation, including keeping pace with frequent changes and adapting to diverse student needs. Teachers have developed creative ways to enhance students' education based on the situation they are currently in. We found that although some of the problems they face can be different, depending on the school category, most of their solutions revolve around a reliance on the community around them. With our findings, we believe that further research should be done on the development of better tools for teachers to use.