Mother tongue essays debut in national competition
Concerns raised by students will attract the interest of education authorities and stakeholders. For instance, the problem of bullying featured prominently in the essays.
Nairobi, Kenya - Kenyan students have been offered a fresh avenue to voice their thoughts through the mother tongue languages, thanks to this year's Digital Essay Competition launched by eKitabu. Over 200 submissions were received, with the theme "Let me speak" allowing participants to address a range of issues in their lives. The competition drew attention to pressing concerns, such as bullying, with a student from western Kenya writing about parents being asked to pay sizable sums for their children to cheat.
The platform enabled learners to discuss sensitive matters, including those they may find challenging to share with parents and teachers. Beatrice Kikuyu, a teacher and panel member, praised the topic for prompting students to write about pressing matters, enhancing guidance and counseling in schools. The competition, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, received a milestone 24,900 essays from across the country's 42 counties.
It boasts categories in English, Kiswahili, French, German, Arabic, Braille, Art, Kenyan Sign Language, and Mandarin Chinese. This is the 14th annual event, offering segments for primary and secondary learners, including those with disabilities, in special needs schools. Judges bestowed prizes like computers, scholarships, and recognition from the Kenya Publishers Association and Ministry of Education.
While this year's entries showcased improved writing quality, some incorporated Artificial Intelligence. Kikuyu noted the judges' involvement, encompassing experts in diverse fields, contributed to the program's creative, inclusive nature.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
