Government pushes for cooperative principles to be taught in primary schools

The government is making strides to integrate the principles of cooperatives into the primary school curriculum.
cooperatives play a vital role in the nation’s investment landscape.
Patrick Kilemi, the Principal Secretary of Co-operatives and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development at the State Department for Cooperatives, announced that the Kenya Professional Cooperators had been registered.
This move aims to professionalize the cooperative profession in Kenya.
“We have registered the Kenya Society Professional Cooperators as a way of professionalizing the cooperative profession,” stated Kilemi.
“We have initiated talks with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to introduce the principles of cooperatives as early as the Basic Education Primary level.”
Currently, cooperative skills are incorporated into secondary school education under the Business subject.
However, the government is now looking to expand cooperative education to primary schools, recognizing its significance in fostering economic development, agricultural growth, reducing unemployment, and combating poverty.
Further, efforts are underway to ensure that university students graduate with qualifications in cooperatives, viewing it both as a business and a science.
Cooperatives have a rich history in Kenya, dating back to 1908, and have since served as vital vehicles for community development and empowerment.