Our aim is to provide gender equitable teacher training programs to working, untrained teachers who can then contribute back to the community, increasing and improving education in the camps overall. These same teachers can continue beyond teacher training certificates and diplomas, applying their “portable” earned credit towards full degree programs. In doing so, BHER students can increase their opportunities for employment in the camps, local areas and upon resettlement or repatriation to their home country.

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Phase 2-A - Educational Studies (Elementary) Phase 3-A - Teacher Education Diploma (Primary) Phase 2 & 3-B - Teacher Education Diploma (Secondary) Phase 4 - Degree Programs Degree Program - Community Health Professional Degree Program - Community Development and Extension Studies Degree Program - Public Policy & Administration Degree Program - Liberal Arts Phase 1 - InSTEP

Phase 1 – InSTEP

Students will initially enrol in a university preparation program called the Increased access and Skills for Tertiary Education (aka InSTEP). Its purpose is to prepare prospective students for university education through courses in English Language for Academic Purposes, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Research Skills. It will run in the months when teachers are not engaged in teaching in the schools, i.e., August, December and April in three camps, Hagadera, Dagahaley, and Ifo. The program accommodates a cohort of 200 students in any given year. Windle Trust Kenya and World University Service of Canada deliver this program.

Phase 2-A – Educational Studies (Elementary) (CES)

Students who elect to proceed with their studies (after InSTEP) will be admitted to the one year Certificate of Completion in Education Studies (CES). Courses will incorporate both current theory and local knowledge, and will be sensitive to and appropriate for the context within which the Certificate is being offered. Both participants and their instructors will be challenged to creatively find and develop resources that can be used to support teaching and learning in the camp context. The Certificate program is offered by York University.

Phase 3-A – Teacher Education Diploma (Primary) (DTE-P)

Students that complete CES successfully may choose to undertake the Teacher Education Diploma (Primary) (DTE-P). The courses that make up the Diploma program will be university unit courses that will be transferable to other degree programs, are recognized by local education authorities, and will support untrained teachers in developing the knowledge, skills, abilities that will help them become effective educators at the primary school level. The DTE-P is offered by the School of Education at Kenyatta University.

Phase 2 & 3-B – Teacher Education Diploma (Secondary) (DTE-S)

As an alternative to the Teacher Education Diploam (Primary) students completing InSTEP may be admitted to a two year Diploma in Teacher Education (Secondary) (DTE-S). This program is offered by Moi University in collaboration with the University of British Columbia.

Phase 4 – Degree Programs

Upon successful completion of the DTE-P or DTE-S, students may elect to follow Bachelor degree programs (currently under development) in the following areas to be offered by the BHER partner universities: Community Health Professional, Community Development and Extension Studies, Public Policy and Administration, Human Rights and Equity Studies and Liberal Arts.

  • Community Health Professional
  • Community Development and Extension Studies
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • Liberal Arts

Want to learn more? Have a look at the BHER Feasibility Study, our Stories from the Field, or the BHER Enabling Fund.