How Baringo maths teacher beats the odds to win top AU award

A Baringo teacher has been awarded a continental award from Unesco’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa.

Jepkosgei Chemoiwa, a mathematics and physics teacher at the Emining Boys High School in Mogotio, will receive the award next month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, alongside four other nominees.

Chemoiwa, who has taught for 15 years, was shocked when she was nominated with another teacher from Kenya for the African Union Continental Best Teacher contest.

"I never thought I would win, it never crossed my mind that one day I would try and win. In May, I got a call from the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) that I was nominated," she recalls.

She was taken through the application process, but assumed that would be the last she'd hear of it. 

Last week, Chemoiwa received communication that the successful contestants would be announced soon, but she never gave it much thought. But on Tuesday while at a Ministry of Education meeting at the Egerton University, the unthinkable happened.

"I saw a message pop up on my (mobile phone) screen that I had been nominated," she says. "Initially, I was in disbelief because sometimes when you're in sub-counties, a rural area, we don't believe that anyone can see what we do."

Chemoiwa says she enjoys teaching as a calling. "I head co-curriculum activities and have helped understand and connect with the learners, which has motivated them with their education."

The teacher says she always challenges learners to solve problems and put what they learn into practice in their daily activities. She believes that teaching is a noble and rewarding job, as she sees the fruit of her work when her learners prosper in life.

“I would wish to give more to my learners and encourage the other teachers to emulate and pick lessons from the winning, and want to take Emining and Kenya to the world,” she says.

Chemoiwa thanks her husband, father and the community for supporting her career.

"My husband has been my biggest supporter," she says, adding that the father has been encouraging her and her siblings to improve their careers.

"I would encourage everyone to do their best irrespective of where you are; one day, someone will recognize your good deeds."

In the village where she serves as a treasurer in the local development group, she notes the trust the community has on her.

She is said to have studied in a girls' school where physics was optional, but she said she managed to encourage other girls to continue cracking the puzzle and invest in the sciences.

She confirmed that her award will not hinder her work as a teacher and will continue molding the learners.

To her, the award, she said, has allowed her to be a teacher's ambassador.

“My school was one of the centers identified as STEM schools, and had started a robotics training program. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and we started training candidates. We learned through chaos,” she said.

During the period, she said, the school was able to adapt to learning through remote learning by realigning how to teach online.

 At the end of 17 weeks, she said they were able to reach over 10,000 learners, a project she is proud of.

Her husband, Mutai Hassan, said his wife is dedicated and committed to her work, and most of the time she ends up being late, but she has achieved her dream.

“I’m proud of my wife; she did her best, she was passionate, dedicated, and committed, wishing her all the best, hoping she will be able to get promoted to enable her to serve the country,” he said.

The school board member, Sammy Chemoiwa, said that the award has opened opportunities and put the school on a continental stage.

“We request her to grow the institution to a global stage; we believe she will motivate her staff to strive further to achieve the same,” he said.

Her uncle, Prof. Chesire Sogomo, says he is proud of his niece for following in his footsteps, hoping the winning flame will be cascaded down to the younger generation.