August 20, 2020
"The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated." - James Baldwin
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Country Updates
Kenya:
The Equity and Inclusion thematic group are working on refining their policy tracking strategy which aims to enhance policy engagement. In collaboration with Mzalendo, a non-partisan entity that keeps an eye on Kenyan Parliament with a mission to facilitate public participation in Parliamentary processes, the group will adapt policy tracking tools and track education related content and policies identified by RELI. In liaison with WPF, the hub is facilitating the hire of a research assistant who will support the nine-month initiative scheduled for September to June 2021.
The Learner Centered Teaching thematic group (LCT) held a meeting on Tuesday, August 4 to share updates and reflect on the continuity of learning during COVID 19. A guest from the Eagle Group International, an ICT solutions company, shared insights on their digital learning solutions which contribute to the support of digital learning platforms during the pandemic. The team from Eagle International will share further details from which members could explore areas of synergy.

The LCT group also received an invitation to join the #keepkenyalearning campaign which aims to support parents, caregivers, and learners during school closure. Headed by a consortium of leading education organisations, EdTech companies and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the consortium hopes to provide families across the country including rural communities and informal settlements with the guidance and resources they need to create fun and engaging learning experiences at home. Group leaders are following on the details of this arrangement.
Tanzania:
On August 1, a network of NGOs in Mtwara District, Tanzania, MTWANGONET in collaboration with Mtwara District Council engaged education stakeholders’ in a workshop on the implementation of the COVID 19 Management manual in Schools, Colleges and Educational Institutions in the Country. The objective of the workshop was to; raise awareness among stakeholders about the COVID 19 guide and its implementation, identify the challenges of using the guide and strategies to address those challenges. Participants included Ward Education Officers, Headteachers, Ward Executives, Village Chairpersons, Committee Members and School Boards from the eight project wards.
RELI Tanzania leaders convened for two days from August 6 - 7 in Dar es Salaam to review and discuss Terms of Reference (ToR) (2020-2021) between Wellspring Philanthropic Fund (WPF) and HakiElimu - the RELI Tanzania host organization. Additionally, the leadership team had in depth discussions on the Tanzania MEL plans, thematic groups learning plans and the budget for the year 2020-2021. The discussion was vibrant and sublimely insightful which in turn gave a clear road map to meaningful engagement for the growth and bright future of RELI Tanzania. 
What we're reading this week:

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