Introducing The Learning Leader - VVOB in Kenya’s Newsletter

In many Kenyan schools, a typical day for a school leader might include adjusting a timetable to cover an unexpected gap, reviewing lesson plans, meeting a parent about learner progress and supporting a teacher who is trying out a new assessment approach. 

In the same school, teachers are refining lesson delivery and aligning classroom practice with updated assessment expectations, often while managing large classes. 

This is the reality of education. And in times of education reform, these responsibilities only expand. 

School leaders must handle administration while leading changes in teaching and learning. Teachers must keep improving their practice. That is why continuous professional development (CPD) matters for both. It also shows why ongoing, practical support is needed. 

Since 2022, VVOB in Kenya, working closely with partners such as the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI), the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) and regionally with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), has been contributing to leadership development, teacher support systems and gender-responsive pedagogy aligned with national education priorities. Under the Teach2Empower initiative, implemented in Kenya in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation, this work further promotes inclusive teaching practices and supports educators to create equitable learning environments aligned with national education priorities. 

Inside The Learning Leader

The Learning Leader brings these efforts together.

Published twice a year, the newsletter provides a space for reflection and shared learning across Kenya’s education sector. It connects educators, policymakers, trainers, partners and programme teams, bringing together lessons from practice and insights from research and policy. It also documents progress and highlights the people driving education reform.

The first issue, released in June 2025 under the theme Strengthening School Leadership for Quality Education, focused on building instructional leadership. It examined how coaching, mentorship and system collaboration support school leaders to improve teaching and learning and included perspectives from government, partners and practitioners across the country.

The second Issue (December 2025), themed “Harnessing Technology for the Future of Education”, turns to blended learning and ICT in professional development. As Kenya advances curriculum reform, digital and hybrid models are helping school leaders and teachers access ongoing support in practical ways. 

In this issue, you will find: 

• Reflections from school leaders engaged in technology-enabled CPD
• Insights from facilitators delivering hybrid learning 

• A forward look at leadership development priorities for 2026 across VVOB’s broader programmes