Africa
In most places in Africa, little or no animal welfare education appears in the national curricula. WSPA works with the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and member societies to deliver animal welfare education programmes in Kenya and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
Kenya
In Africa WSPA used to run ‘Kindness Clubs’ which were extra-curricular clubs led by teachers in, at one point, 34 countries in Africa. However, although children and teachers were very enthusiastic, the methodology used was difficult to evaluate and also WSPA believes that animal welfare education is so important that it merits a place within the official curriculum.
Preliminary meetings with the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) in 2005 resulted in a WSPA-KIE collaboration to review the existing primary school curriculum.
In 2006 the KIE conducted a ‘Needs Assessment’ amongst farmers, agricultural officers, animal health workers, students, teachers and consumers. The main aim was to have a better understanding of stakeholders’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards animal welfare in general and specifically to teaching animal welfare.
The KIE report concluded that inclusion of animal welfare in the national education curriculum would be a welcome addition.
Achievements to date:
2006-2007
- ‘The Unlikely Burden and other short stories’ – an anthology of short stories about animal welfare was published in September 2006. The book was distributed to over 2000 ‘Kindness Clubs’ and to schools in Kenya. The funny and at times sad stories with a serious animal welfare message really make African children think about animals as sentient beings and the important role they play in our lives.
- A ‘Needs Assessment’ was carried out by the Kenya Institute of Education indicating that there is a need for formal animal welfare education in the curriculum of primary schools in Kenya.
- In 2007 a consultant developed animal welfare lessons aimed at standards 1-8 that can be implemented into the curriculum (in ‘Science’, ‘English’, ‘Religion studies’, and ‘Social studies’). These will be reviewed by the KIE who agreed to develop animal welfare materials for the national curriculum.
In 2008 we aim to:
- Secure an agreement with the Kenya Institute of Education for the development, approval and piloting of animal welfare education materials in 50 targeted schools.
- Establish partnerships with 100 in-service teachers in Nairobi and surroundings, Kenya, who will participate in the pilot Kenya IN AWE programme in 2008.
- Review the current education system and determine new avenues for integrating animal welfare in the curriculum.
Tanzania
In Zanzibar (an island off the coast of mainland Tanzania) the curriculum was reviewed in November 2006. The Ministry of Education planned to change the curriculum completely and WSPA was invited to help with this as technical experts on animal welfare.
