Kitale: Schools have been encouraged to establish children’s athletics programs to identify and nurture sporting talent from a young age. This call was made during the Second Edition of the Kids Athletics competition at the Tegla Lorupe Education and Peace Centre in West Pokot County. The event gathered students from several schools to display their athletic skills.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event, themed ‘Little Feet, Big Dreams,’ allowed young athletes to compete and enabled teachers and coaches to identify students with potential in various sports disciplines. Tegla Lorupe, the host and a global athletics ambassador, emphasized the inseparability of education and sports, urging schools to invest in both for the development of well-rounded leaders and champions.
Lorupe highlighted the importance of discovering children’s talents early, noting that sporting activities can uncover abilities that might remain unnoticed in the classroom. She praised the Ministry of Education at both national and county levels for their support and encouraged schools to adopt similar programs. Exposure to sports at an early age, she argued, could help children discover their abilities and gain confidence.
The event aligns with current educational trends that emphasize recognizing individual learner abilities under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum. Maruti Soita, the Curriculum Support Officer for Siyoi Zone, stated that it is crucial for schools to provide opportunities for children to showcase their strengths beyond academics, as not all students learn at the same pace.
Yophes Magara, the County Director of Education for West Pokot, lauded the Tegla Lorupe Education and Peace Centre for sustaining the initiative. He remarked that the event’s growth demonstrated the model’s potential to contribute to talent development. The Centre is recognized for integrating education, talent development, and peace-building, closely aligning with the CBE spirit.
Prof. Kipsang Chemagut, Projects Manager at the Ministry of Education in West Pokot, reiterated the significance of sports in the new curriculum, which includes pathways such as STEM, social sciences, and arts and sports. He encouraged Ambassador Lorupe to maintain the program as a model for others and stressed the importance of balancing sports with education for young athletes.
The Tegla Lorupe Education and Peace Centre is already seeing results from its sporting talent investments, running programs throughout the academic year and supporting 36 athlete students. The institution has also sent students to represent Kenya in regional competitions. The school aims to produce athletes who will compete for the country on international stages.
Benjamin Kilelan, Chief Officer for Youth Affairs, Social Services, Sports, Culture, and Gender, acknowledged the challenges of inadequate sports infrastructure in the county but noted the establishment of training camps in various regions. He highlighted the importance of early talent identification and structured training in developing successful athletes.
The second edition of Kids Athletics has demonstrated the role schools can play in talent identification. As young athletes showcased their skills, education and sports stakeholders emphasized the need for schools to provide opportunities for talent development alongside education.
In his opening remarks, Magara encapsulated the event’s spirit with a hopeful message: ‘Let the children play. Let peace win. Let talent grow.’
