On 31st August 2021 Starehe Boys’ Centre officially became a Confucius classroom. The signing of the MoU took place at the Starehe Boys’ Centre Director’s office. Present at the signing ceremony was Starehe Boys’ Centre Director Mr. Josphat Mwaura, Deputy Director and Operations Manager Mr. Fred Okono, Confucius Institute Directors; Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai and Prof. Li Jing, Confucius Institute Lecturer Mr. Zheng ShenPeng and Confucius Institute Administrator Ms. Ruth Sarah Achieng’.
The status of a Confucius classroom is given to a school or institution that hosts a Chinese club. It is meant to bring support to teaching of the language and cultural activities by the Chinese International Education Foundation. The success of a Confucius institute like KUCI is gauged by its ability to propagate the teaching of Chinese language and culture and this is partly done through establishment of Confucius Classrooms. So far the Kenyatta University Confucius Institute has four Confucius Classrooms under its banner, namely; Rusinga School Confucius Classroom, USIU Confucius Classroom and Starehe Boys’ Centre Confucius Classroom. Soon to be signed is Crawford International School Confucius Classroom. Cumulatively the classrooms have over 600 students currently learning Chinese language and culture.
The Chinese International Education Foundation formerly known as Hanban offers support in terms of purchase of books, assignment of lecturers that are fully paid by the Chinese Foundation, issuing of scholarships to excelling students and support for various Chinese cultural activities.
Speaking after the signing of the MoU, Starehe Boys’ Centre Director Mr. Josphat Mwaura said he was glad to start the journey that would see his boys learn the very relevant foreign language. He said his boys excel in arts like martial arts and are excitedly waiting for the start of the martial arts class.
Starehe Boys’ Centre is a school of great interest to Kenyatta University as it is not only a top national school in Kenya, but almost always has all its students join universities after their KCSE. Through constant contact with Confucius Institute, the boys will get to appreciate Kenyatta University and eventually make it their local university of choice for all course.