The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has emphasised the critical importance of sustained media collaboration to harness diverse stakeholder strengths and adapt to the evolving media and education landscape.
During a strategic engagement with Zizi Afrique Foundation, MCK’s Assistant Director for Training and Curriculum Development Christine Nguku underscored the urgent need to promote child education through robust parental involvement and strong media support.
Ms Nguku highlighted that engaging and supporting journalists and editors to produce high-quality, impactful stories linking education to current events and political narratives is key.
“This can be achieved by encouraging the production of unique, in-depth stories that explore innovative perspectives on education,” she noted.
To support this, Nguku proposed practical measures, such as introducing small grants to incentivise journalists and encouraging media houses to prioritise education content in their news agendas. She also advocated for a collaborative model where seasoned mentors guide journalists on story development, source selection, and narrative depth to enhance the quality of education reporting.
Echoing Nguku’s sentiments, MCK’s Manager for Fundraising, Government Relations and Stakeholder Engagement Stella Kaaria, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to fostering such partnerships.
She highlighted MCK’s regional presence, media standards, ethics compliance framework, and the capacity-building initiatives of the Africa Media Academy as key strengths positioning the Council as a strategic partner in advancing media’s role in education.
“The power of collaboration and aligning our aspirations with organisational capabilities cannot be overstated,” Kaaria stated.
Zizi Afrique Foundation’s Director for Partnerships Sam Otieno stressed the media’s potential to raise public awareness and drive national dialogue on emerging education issues.
He called for structured exchange forums where journalists can gain deeper insights into evolving education policies, supported by reliable data and evidence.
“The media plays a pivotal role in demystifying reforms like the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). By focusing on values-driven learning and making complex educational changes accessible, journalists can connect with ordinary citizens,” Otieno explained.
Otieno advocated for a sustained, multi-stakeholder effort to support education reforms, emphasising that effective storytelling can build public trust, inspire community involvement and ensure no child is left behind in Kenya’s educational transformation.