By Jeff kizzilah Digital Editor
The National Parents Association (NPA) has called for a strategic partnership between the Association and international schools across Kenya to strengthen parental engagement, improve learning outcomes, and create global opportunities for learners through educational exchange programmes, innovation, sports, and leadership development.
Established under the Basic Education Act, 2013, the NPA is the national umbrella body representing parents of learners in public, private, international, faith-based, and special needs schools. The Association emphasized that every parent shares the responsibility of ensuring children receive quality, safe, inclusive, and holistic education, making collaboration across all education systems essential.
Speaking during a courtesy meeting at the NPA headquarters in Nairobi with education stakeholders from Rwanda, National Parents Association Chairman Mr. Silas David Obuhatsa said Kenya’s education sector stands to benefit greatly from structured partnerships with international schools that have demonstrated excellence in innovation, learner well-being, digital learning, child safeguarding, and parent-school engagement.
Mr. Obuhatsa noted that collaboration would enable the sharing of best practices in learner-centred education, mental health support, artificial intelligence in education, environmental conservation, leadership development, inclusive education, career guidance, and school safety. At the same time, international schools would benefit from the NPA’s nationwide grassroots network, cultural diversity, and extensive experience in mobilizing parents and strengthening community participation in education.
The discussions, held with Dr. Paul and Madam Agnes from Rwanda, also highlighted the importance of expanding educational exchange programmes within Africa. Mr. Obuhatsa observed that Rwanda has made remarkable progress in education through investments in science, technology, innovation, leadership development, and internationally oriented learning institutions.
The NPA is proposing educational exchange opportunities that would allow outstanding learners from public schools—particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds—to participate in study visits, leadership programmes, science and innovation camps, cultural exchanges, sports tournaments, and virtual learning partnerships with schools across Africa. Such initiatives would expose learners to different education systems, strengthen regional cooperation, and nurture globally competitive young leaders.
The Association further called for collaboration in sports, games, arts, robotics, coding, debate, environmental conservation, family wellness programmes, and talent development to promote teamwork, discipline, healthy lifestyles, and national cohesion among learners and parents from diverse educational backgrounds.
Additionally, the NPA identified strategic partnership areas including child protection, digital literacy,
Competency-Based Education implementation, research on parental engagement, mental health awareness, climate change education, entrepreneurship, scholarships, career mentorship, disaster preparedness, and community outreach.
The Association believes these partnerships will improve learner outcomes, enhance parental participation, strengthen child protection, promote innovation across schools, support equitable quality education, and prepare Kenyan learners with the skills required to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
The National Parents Association is therefore urging the Ministry of Education, international schools, private schools, public schools, development partners, county education stakeholders, and the private sector to work closely with the NPA in building a more collaborative, inclusive, and globally competitive education system that benefits every child in Kenya.
