Parents’ Meeting Held at Olerebuk, Ruvu Muungano Village

On May 6th, 2025, a successful parents’ meeting was conducted at Olerebuk, located in Ruvu Muungano Village, within the Same Diocese. The event brought together 50 participants, primarily parents and guardians of preschool children.

Meeting Objectives

The main goals of the session were:

  1. To raise awareness among parents about the challenges children face with Kiswahili as a language of instruction in preschool and the early years of primary school.
  2. To help parents understand their role in supporting their children’s development of communication skills in Kiswahili, especially those from Maasai-speaking households.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

During the interactive session, parents shared insights, experiences, and ideas for supporting their children’s language development. The challenges discussed included the difficulty children experience transitioning from a Maa-speaking home environment to Kiswahili-based learning in school.

Strategies Proposed by Parents

Parents collaboratively suggested practical strategies to help bridge the language gap and create a more supportive learning environment:

  1. Extension of Preschool Hours
    • Increasing school hours from 3 to 4 hours daily to provide children with more time to engage in Kiswahili-speaking activities and learning.
  2. Provision of Porridge at School
    • Introducing a school feeding program to ensure children are not learning on an empty stomach, which affects concentration and participation.
  3. Cultural Storytelling in Kiswahili
    • Encouraging parents to narrate traditional Maasai stories in Kiswahili at home, making storytelling both a cultural and educational activity that supports language acquisition.

Conclusion

The meeting was a meaningful step toward strengthening the collaboration between educators and parents in fostering a supportive language environment for children. The suggestions from parents will be considered for integration into the ongoing Early Childhood Education programs under the Diocese of Same Development Department (DSDD).

This engagement highlights the importance of community involvement in improving children’s learning outcomes and ensuring smoother transitions into formal education.