The Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) held a consultative meeting with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in West Pokot County to further strengthen their collaboration in supporting learners through education and Scouting.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the emphasis on using scouting activities to help keep learners in school. With challenges such as school dropouts and absenteeism affecting the county, both KSA and TSC agreed that scouting can provide learners with a sense of belonging, discipline, and motivation to remain in school.
Dr. Esther Musani, TSC County Director West Pokot recognized Scouting as a vital co-curricular activity that complements classroom learning and pledged continued support for teachers who double as scout leaders, acknowledging their role in mentoring learners beyond academics.
“I applaud the Kenya Scouts Association for using Scouting as a tool to retain learners in school, especially in marginalized areas of West Pokot. Through these projects on kitchen gardening and sinking of water boreholes, mentorship, peer-to-peer learning and sanitary towel drives, Scouts are playing a critical role in addressing dropout rates”, said Dr. Musani”.
Discussions and plans on further collaborations in the areas of tree planting, Health and hygiene education more so on menstrual hygiene support and sensitization programmes on harmful practices including early marriages and FGM were laid down with both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing learners through discipline, leadership development, and character formation.
The Deputy Chief Commissioner on behalf of the National Scout Board thanked the commission for the support extended to the Association and to Scout Leaders who are teachers under its jurisdiction that enables them deliver the Scout Programme to learners in schools across the country.