Back home in Nakuru, Rosemary Bosibori Onyancha is an ordinary high school teacher among hundreds of others.
Bosibori teaches Computer and Business studies at Moi Forces Academy, Lanet.
However, on October 5, Bosibori won the African Union’s Continental Best Teacher Award, effectively elevating her above most of her peers not only in the county by across the country and beyond.
She was recognised alongside seven other outstanding teachers from Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.
The event was organised by African Union Commission to celebrate and mark World Teachers’ Day.
The African Union Commission instituted the Continental Best Teacher Award in 2019.
Winners receive monetary rewards and are celebrated.
Bosibori said her passionate to incorporate technology in teaching largely contributed to her winning the accolades.
"This helps to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for the digital age - this includes using tools like Google Classroom and Teams for remote and distance learning," she said.
Bosibori was speaking during an interview with the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO IICBA).
Despite being a teacher, Bosibori has also found interest in technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI).
"Another area of interest is exploring emerging technologies like Generative Artificial Intelligence–these technologies have the potential to revolutionise education and prepare students for the future," she said.
Another passion that ignites Bosibori's teaching is her commitment to addressing educational disparities and ensuring all students, regardless of their circumstances, have access to quality education.
The Nakuru teacher took to adopting technology at the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020 where she strived to provide access to remote learning including via mobile phone.
Bosirbori said she was passionate about fostering collaborations between teachers using channels such as Google Educators Group (GEG Kenya).
The GEG Kenya is an online platform that provides a space for educators to discuss together and learn about one another through Google+.
Bosibori also revealed that she was an active member, volunteer and contributor to the Robotics Society of Kenya, a non-profit promoting computing in institutions and communities.
When asked what she feels can be done to reduce teacher shortage and ensure teachers excel at what they do, Bosibori said welfare comes first and most countries including Kenya have a long way to go.
"There is no panacea, but priorities should include improving teachers’ working conditions, ensuring quality pre-service education, providing continuous professional development and establishing clear career paths and related competencies," Bosibori added.
Proud moments.
Bosibori said one of her proud moments was when after the pandemic, teachers managed to achieve 100 per cent return of learners to school.
She explained that this was made possible by use of technology where students were kept busy with online learning.
"This was in part because even in the face of the pandemic, access to remote learning was possible, including via mobile phones," Bosibori said.
Bosibori revealed that another moment of pride was when she initiated a collaborative effort with other educators, resulting to Moi Forces Academy, Lanet receiving recognition as an HP Innovation and Digital Education Academy (HP IDEA) School.
"Our project, titled 'Digital Presentation in Learning Enhances Communication Skills' helped for this recognition. Our Principal, Madam Jedidah Mwangi, was among the distinguished fellows involved in this initiative," she said.
