Kenyan teacher Dominic Orina shortlisted for Sh129m Global Teacher Award
Dominic Orina, who is a teacher at Kugerwet Primary School, with some of his pupils who are members the school's 4K Club.
What you need to know:
- Orina thanked the Nation for featuring him and his pupils in the Seeds of Gold magazine in November 2023.
- "Thank you Nation Media Group. You played a part in this by telling the world what we do in villages," Orina said.
A Kenyan teacher has been shortlisted for the Global Teacher Award, barely five years after Peter Tabichi bagged the prize in 2019.
Dominic Orina, who teaches at Kugerwet Primary School in Bomet County, is among the 50 candidates eyeing the award that comes with a $1 million (Sh129 million) token of appreciation.
“This wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of my amazing people, like you. Keep me in your prayers to carry the trophy home by the end of the competition,” Orina posted on Facebook upon receiving the news of his nomination.
“My students, parents, teachers, and the entire community let us share this blessing. Improving people's lives through education is our priority. Glory be to God”.
Speaking to Nation.Africa on Sunday, an elated Orina said he was humbled by the global recognition of his services to the community.
"Being among the 50 shortlisted for the Global Teacher Award reminds me that whenever you do something, do it to the best of your ability for somebody somewhere is watching," Orina said.
Dominic Orina, who is a teacher at Kugerwet Primary School, with some of his pupils who are members the school's 4K Club.
It is his efforts to build resilience among his pupils through agriculture at Kugerwet Primary that opened doors for him and earned him in the global arena.
Orina, who hails from Nyamira County, was posted to Kugerwet Primary School in 2017. A year after he had settled at his new workstation, he decided to revamp the once famous 4K clubs at the school with the aim of improving the food systems.
Through the club's clarion call of ‘Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya’ (uniting, doing, and helping Kenya), Orina instilled the spirit of patriotism and unity among the pupils of Kugerwet in Konoin Constituency.
He urged them to embrace self-reliance in ensuring access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for themselves and their communities.
Unlike in Nyamira where he used to have a variety of vegetables to feed on, the only greens he could find in the Satiet area, where he lives, were Collard greens— popularly known as Sukumawiki— and cabbages.
Since he had a vast knowledge of innovative farming, Orina asked his landlord to allow him to start growing vegetables in plastic containers within the compound— a wish that was graciously granted.
Within weeks, his vegetables blossomed. He invited his pupils to visit him and attest that one can make the most out of the little they have through innovation.
Following this visit, Orina's pupils got motivated and they agreed to start their projects of growing vegetables at school under his guidance.
Later, they also ventured into rabbit rearing. “We asked the school to allocate us land for our project and then started planting vegetables and later the rearing of rabbits. That project is still ongoing up to now,” Orina said.
All their vegetables are grown organically. The pupils tap the rabbit’s urine, which they use as foliar fertiliser and as a pesticide to keep away aphids and other pests.
Later, their project turned out to be an income-generating activity. During the rainy seasons, they would harvest plenty of vegetables and sell them to their teachers and the local community.
Orina and his learners have been publicising their activities through social media platforms and this has seen them get support from well-wishers who have ended up supporting less fortunate pupils by buying them school uniforms, shoes, and textbooks.
Before he applied for the Global Teacher Award, Orina’s love for making learners grasp the basics of agriculture and impacting society positively had not gone unnoticed.
He has been feted through various awards by the Ministry of Education and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The UNESCO award was for his distinguished community service.
He also emerged second in three award categories under the Optiven Foundation in 2021. The Education Ministry recognised him for being the best innovative teacher in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) within the Cheptalal zone.
Orina says he did not believe when he was informed that he was among the 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Award.
He revealed that he had been urged to apply for the global award by his friends and colleagues who had also recognised his work.
"I cannot express how I feel. I am persuaded to believe that I will scoop this award. If God allows me to do so, then this will be for my country, for the Kugerwet pupils, and the community here," Orina said.
Orina thanked the Nation for featuring him and his pupils in the Seeds of Gold magazine in November 2023.
"Thank you Nation Media Group. You played a part in this by telling the world what we do in villages," Orina said.
