Educating for Empowerment

Educating for Empowerment

Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls (JAMS):

  • Is a secondary school “good enough for the richest, open to the poorest,”
  • Provides an innovative, effective pedagogical model to the nation of Kenya and to East Africa,
  • Empowers girls to become women who participate fully in the life of the nation.

Teaching methods, school governance, curriculum, and living conditions are all designed to empower the girls and develop effective life skills and leadership qualities. JAMS is grounded in a holistic philosophy: we care about the whole child, her emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being.

Results

  • JAMS began in 2011 with 12 girls in Form One (9th grade).
  • In 2022, 165 girls attend JAMS (about 40 in each form).
  • Eight JAMS classes have now graduated (2014 through 2021). All JAMS students have passed the national Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam—a graduation rate of 100%.
  • Over 70% of JAMS students have achieved KCSE scores that qualify them to go on to higher education (university or vocational college) while the national average is about 35%.

JAMS biology lab July 2019  JAMS Computer Lab 2020

Teaching Methods

Unlike most Kenyan schools, teaching methods at JAMS focus on active learning and independent thinking.

  • Students are encouraged to ask questions.
  • Class sessions involve discussion and hands-on activities in addition to lecture.
  • Students are guided to do research on their own.
  • Students learn entrepreneurial and agricultural skills through participating in micro-enterprises: bakery, poultry operation, dairy, greenhouse, tailoring.

School Governance

JAMS students practice democracy and learn leadership skills through their participation in school governance.

  • Students participate in policy making for the school.
  • JAMS uses participatory democracy to empower students and instill self-respect.
  • Students decide how to work together to keep their dormitories, dining hall, and classrooms clean and organized.

Friends of JAMS Science Building Challenge  Educating for Empowerment 7

Curriculum

JAMS is registered and accredited by the Kenyan Ministry of Education and thus provides the required secondary school courses: Kiswahili, English, history, geography, math, biology, physics, chemistry, business, agriculture, religious education. In addition, JAMS provides enriched resources and activities such as

  • A library open to students and teachers,
  • Computer literacy classes,
  • Fully equipped biology, chemistry, and physics labs for hands-on experiments,
  • A music (instrumental and vocal) program,
  • Guest teachers expert in their fields.

The students have responded by organizing their own study halls and mini-classes that they teach themselves.

Educating for Empowerment 5  Educating for Empowerment 6

Living Conditions

The JAMS campus provides clean, healthy, spacious facilities for living, studying, and playing. Unlike most other high schools in Kenya, JAMS provides every student the necessities girls require to be healthy and productive, including sanitary supplies, mosquito nets, toiletries, and medical attention.

2018 JAMS  JAMS - Nelle and two students