Montessori Training for East Pokot Teachers

Introduction and Background

Since the last report in June 2026, AMI partner Montessori for Kenya has continued to strengthen its work in East Pokot to provide children with access to high-quality Montessori education, particularly through accessible teacher training and mentorship. In previous years, Pokot students would travel to Nakuru for their Montessori teacher training. These teachers then worked in schools in Pokot, and visitors would see the positive impact on the children, which was therefore also embraced by the parents. To meet the growing demand, Montessori for Kenya set out to host a Montessori Certificate course in Pokot, enabling it to train many more teachers on-site.  

Pokot Certificate Course

MfK worked on organising the first Montessori 3–6 national certificate course in East Pokot in partnership with the Baringo County Government, So They Can, Oasis Teachers Training College, and Tangulbei Primary School. The local Sub-County Education Coordinators, Mr Ousman and Mrs Kitilit, and Montessori for Kenya officially inaugurated the training on 3 August 2026 at Tangulbei Primary School. This marked an important step towards bringing Montessori training closer to teachers and communities in East Pokot. 45 trainees started the course in August under the supervision of lead trainers Beth and Ann, with assistance from Rebecca. Rebecca and Beth are employed at Montessori for Kenya.

The training was open to anyone who met the minimum entry qualifications. Among those who enrolled were 10 mothers with children under 9 months of age, with the youngest child being 2 weeks old at the start of the course. This demonstrated the importance of providing flexible and accessible training opportunities within the community for people who would otherwise be unable to join a training course. The trainees were charged a highly subsidised fee that covered the cost of meals, accommodation, and training costs.

Lectures were held at the Tangulbei Primary School’s classrooms and a well-prepared practical room. The trainees boarded in the school’s dormitories. There were 37 women and 8 men in the course. The first-ever community-based training was well received, and the trainees expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunity to undertake Montessori training within their own community. 

Training Costs and Materials

Although the Montessori 3–6 course is offered to the community at a highly subsidised rate to make the training more accessible, many students struggle to cover these costs, especially the young mothers. As the training progresses, the students will make materials by hand. The teachers have already created materials for the first module, making creative and innovative use of what is available within the community. In the next module, the students will work with the sensorial materials with their teachers. 

Montessori Teachers

Gladys C has almost completed the AMI 3–6 International Diploma Course in Dar es Salaam and is expected to begin her final module in November. She receives mentorship from Beth while undertaking her teaching practice in her own environment at Barpello Primary School. Through this continued support and practical experience, Montessori for Kenya is helping Gladys develop the skills and experience needed to become a mentor, teach and support other Montessori teachers in East Pokot.

The teachers who found employment in government schools are also continuing to make progress. During the training in Tangulbei, the teachers visited Beth at the training centre where they shared their progress and experiences. Sharon, Linet, Evelyn and Denzel shed light on how it works in public schools. They shared that the secret was working closely with parents and the school administration to understand how they uniquely work with the children. The teachers are working to introduce Montessori principles in their classrooms while dealing with challenges of high numbers of children and limited classroom space. 

Montessori for Kenya is planning a refresher course for the teachers in November to support their work in the schools. Each school has specific needs, so Montessori for Kenya is providing targeted mentorship to support the teachers. In June, Beth visited the public schools where the teachers work and gave a talk to the school administrators about Montessori education and the kind of support the teachers need in their practice. She met the headteachers of 10 schools and the subcounty officials, who were very happy to be shown how Montessori works. At Seronu Primary School, where Linet works with 65 children, Beth had a session with Linet in which she shared her work and discussed how to work with the children in small spaces, utilising the outdoor environment. This engagement has increased the teachers’ motivation and commitment. Such experiences provide a foundation for future mentorship programmes in East Pokot.

Sister Lucia, a trained Montessori teacher, joined Nsalatuko School after she completed her Montessori training at the Child Developers Program (CDP) Montessori College in Nairobi. Sr Lucia got a scholarship offered through the Montessori Global Growth Fund (MGGF). Following her training, Sister Lucia has established her Montessori environment at Nasaltuko Primary School, where she is beginning to put her Montessori training into practice. A visit is planned by Montessori for Kenya in October to provide mentorship, observation, and support as she works with the children. The visit will also provide an opportunity to identify areas where further support may be needed to strengthen the implementation of Montessori in the school.

Looking Ahead

The last four months have been a period of continued growth, learning and collaboration. Much progress has been made in increasing access to Montessori education in East Pokot, continuing teacher mentorship and supporting new teachers in establishing Montessori environments. Several challenges remain, including limited classroom resources, incomplete Montessori materials, large class sizes and the financial constraints trainees face in paying for training and producing materials. Continued mentorship, professional development, and support will be essential in helping the teachers grow in confidence, strengthen their practice, and ensure that more children in East Pokot experience quality Montessori education.