"Alternative approaches to Education: Talent Academies Pilot In Kenya" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Nairobi, Kenya | 26-27 November 2014

1. Alternative approaches to Education:
Talent Academies Pilot In Kenya
Shweta Sandilya (Ph.D)
Education Specialist
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
ssandilya@unicef.org
Photo: Minu Limbu/UNICEF

2. 2007-08 Post Election Violence:
Evidence of dysfunctional education systems in countries
affected by conflict in Africa: The youth bulge
Photo: Various Media Sources from 2007-

3. 2007-08:UNICEF Education Program Global response:
1. Pilot the talent academy model;
2. Build country office capacity-out of school youth Programs.
Photo: UNICEF Kenya Country Office

4. Foundations of the Program in Kenya
What: Following the 2007/2008 post-election violence a situational
analysis was conducted to investigate why large numbers of youths
were involved in the violence.
Findings: a majority of youths felt frustrated due to lack of
opportunities to nurture / showcase talent and an overwhelming
feeling of hopelessness in finding a secure livelihood.
Intervention: The talent academy was established with the vision to
train, nurture and showcase youth talent in sports and performing
arts.

5. Design Talent Academy
It seeks to supplement in the deficit model of
Education-what learners cannot do and focuses on
what they are able to do.
Photo: UNICEF Kenya Country Office

6. Buy in
from the
governme
nt of
Kenya
Technical
Proposal
Setting up
of inter-ministerial
technical
working
Roll out of
national
stakeholder
awareness
program
Curriculum
design
incorporatin
g peace
education
and national
integration
Anchored
on Capacity,
building,
advocacy
and South
to South
exchange
Designing the Pilot Program 2009-2010
Photo: UNICEF Kenya Country Office

7. Selection
Based on equity-gender,
focus on
geographically, socio-economic
marginalization
School drop outs
seeking to rejoin the
education system
based on talent
The In-school
Model –Ministry of
Education Science
& Technology
8 existing schools
running the curriculum
designated as talent
academies
Additional support
provided for
infrastructure, training
and talent scholarships
scheme for in school
learners
The out of school
youth model-
Ministry of Youth
and Sports
1 national Government
center with elite
training in sports and
arts
Intensive training for
9-12 months on 70%
talent and 30%
compensatory
education
Implementation

8. Theory of Change
NYTA Alumni-NYTA clipsNYTA 3-NYTA alumni.mp4

9. Theory of Change Continued….
Youth Talent
Development
Compensatory
learning
Sustainable
youth/
adolescents
livelihoods

10. The Pilot & Modelling has--
Provided a new systematic
learning space for
adolescents out of school
system
Given new life based
learning that empowers
adolescents
It is replicable at all levels of
learning and is cost
effective, can also be an
integrated model in the
existing in-school
structures.
Gives a definite livelihood
to adolescents hitherto
hopeless and shut out by
the deficit model of
Education

11. Impact
Pilot Key Learning Points
Advocacy
Technical
Design

12. THANK YOU