With 65 students in total, Anne Irungu’s Grade One classroom is full, like all the other classrooms at Nyamachaki Primary School, Nyeri County, Kenya. But GPE's PRIEDE project, with its new teaching methods and a textbook for every child, is making mathematics engaging and classroom management easier.

Teacher Anne Irungu gets students involved by using bottle caps and other objects to demonstrate new math concepts. “When the children count using objects, they are interested. When you give them a chance to do it practically, even those who might usually get distracted pay attention... They get the concept much more easily than if you just stand in front of them and tell them to repeat after you."

“When we started teaching different concepts using the methodology we were taught, we found the pupils were grasping what we were teaching them, so that aroused their interest in mathematics. And when we found the pupils learning and participating very well in class, our interest was aroused. It feels good to teach them and to feel you have achieved your objective.” - Anne Irungu, teacher

“The students like the new textbooks. They are colorful and attractive with different colors and pictures that arouses their interest and helps them concentrate. And because each child has their own book... everybody does their work faster and we don't have a group that is lagging behind." - Anne Irungu, teacher

First grade student John Mwangi with his math textbook. Says his teacher, Anne Irungu: “When I taught mathematics before, sometimes one book was shared between two or more pupils. Since they could not all move at the same pace, you would find them fighting over the book, and the books would get worn out. Now that each pupil has his or her own book, they sit comfortably, they work comfortably, and there is no conflict.”

First grade teacher Anne Irungu checks the students’ work. She checks a sample of students exercises to ensure that they got the lesson right. Marking and feedback on their work happens later.

At the end of class students return the mathematics textbooks to their teacher Anne Irungu for marking and safe keeping.

Esther Murage’s Grade Two classroom is also full, with 60 students, but GPE's PRIEDE project has supported new teaching methods helping both the teachers and the students. "Before... the teacher used to talk a lot and the students would lose interest. Now the teachers are using a better methodology and the pupils are getting involved," Esther says.

Grade Two teacher Esther Murage uses bottlecap counters to help the students understand a math concept. “In previous years, the children often had negative attitudes towards mathematics. Now they start with a good spirit. Most of them are really interested in mathematics, such that they can't wait for the lesson because they know we will do practical activities.”

A student in grade two works to complete a math problem in his GPE-supplied textbook using bottlecap counters. Now that every child has a textbook and the teachers are employing new ways of teaching, students are far more interested in mathematics than before.

Head Teacher Nicholas Gathemia visits the second grade classroom in Nyamachaki Primary School, Kenya. “The way I see it, this program is long overdue,” he says. “The teaching of early grade mathematics is now standardized across the country. Regardless of where you come from, the textbook is the same and the teaching is the same, so the education you are getting is the same."

"Most of the children in our school come from the slums. A program like this gives those children the chance to learn and to become what they are supposed to become. We expect we shall have engineers coming from the slums, as well as doctors, social workers… This program will take this country to very great heights. What is needed now is to expand it beyond the early grades.” - Head Teacher Nicholas Gathemia, Nyamachaki Primary School, Nyeri County, Kenya