Research Article
Teacher Preparedness in Community Service Learning and Acquisition of Core Values Among Learners in Early Years Education in Murang'a County, Kenya
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
43-50
Received:
4 September 2026
Accepted:
15 September 2026
Published:
28 September 2026
Abstract: The teacher forms the link between the intended curriculum and the intended learners experience. This is nowhere more evident than in Community Service Learning (CSL), where value formation depends on deliberate planning, modelling and assessment rather than content transmission. Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum places core values such as unity, responsibility, integrity and patriotism at the heart of early years education, yet the extent to which teachers are prepared to cultivate these values through CSL has received little empirical attention. This study sought to determine the degree of teacher preparedness in community service learning and its relationship with the acquisition of core values among learners in early years education in Murang'a County, Kenya. The study was guided by Bandura's social learning theory and Kolb's experiential learning theory; the study employed a mixed research design. From a target population of 10,882 and an accessible population of 7,395. A purposive random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 46 respondents from four sub-counties. This consisted of 28 Grade Three teachers and 18 heads of institutions. Data were collected using a five-point Likert questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha =.842) and structured interview for head of institution. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at the 5% significance level using SPSS Version 30, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. The findings showed uniformly high self-reported preparedness, with role modelling drawing the strongest endorsement (96.6% strong agreement). Correlation analysis returned a positive, moderate and statistically significant relationship between teacher preparedness and acquisition of core values (r = .452, p = .014). The study concluded that teacher preparedness in CSL significantly influences value acquisition among early years learners and recommends sustained, value-specific continuous professional development so that what teachers know is matched by what they practice daily in the classroom.
Abstract: The teacher forms the link between the intended curriculum and the intended learners experience. This is nowhere more evident than in Community Service Learning (CSL), where value formation depends on deliberate planning, modelling and assessment rather than content transmission. Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum places core values such as unity,...
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Research Article
Assessment of Critical Thinking in Competency-Based Education in Kenya: Practices in Integrated Science Instruction in Public Junior Schools in Nairobi County
Mrithi Joselyn Kawira*
,
Ituma Monica Gakii,
Ogembo John Otieno
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
51-63
Received:
8 September 2026
Accepted:
24 September 2026
Published:
9 October 2026
Abstract: Critical thinking is one of the competencies learners are expected to develop under the Competency-Based Education in Kenya. This shift demands a paradigm shift from conventional assessment practices to inquiry-based Competency-Based Assessment practices. This study aimed to assess critical thinking assessment practices in Integrated Science instruction in public junior schools in Nairobi County. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study used proportionate, convenience, and systematic sampling to select 382 respondents from a target population of 8,259. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on critical thinking assessment practices in Integrated Science instruction from both teachers and learners. The reliability of the instruments was established through piloting in a neighboring county, Kajiado County. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.784 was obtained, thus making the tools suitable for data collection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the study findings were presented using frequencies and percentage differences. The study findings show that teachers face challenges in assessing critical thinking in Integrated Science instruction, especially in interpreting the curriculum to incorporate inquiry, reflection, evidence-based reasoning, and application of knowledge in real-life situations. The gap was confirmed by learner responses, which consistently reported gaps in classroom practices that promote critical thinking. There is a gap in teachers’ perception of competence in critical thinking assessment practices in Integrated Science instruction in comparison to learner perceptions. The findings inform education stakeholders of the need to invest in equipping teachers with pedagogical skills for Competency-Based Assessment, especially in assessing critical thinking.
Abstract: Critical thinking is one of the competencies learners are expected to develop under the Competency-Based Education in Kenya. This shift demands a paradigm shift from conventional assessment practices to inquiry-based Competency-Based Assessment practices. This study aimed to assess critical thinking assessment practices in Integrated Science instru...
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