The report of a baseline study commissioned by the Aga Khan Foundation in support of a pilot project entitled  ‘Supporting the Government of Kenya’s Values-based Education Policy and Practice’ project was disseminated at a workshop in Mombasa on 14 September 2017. Representatives of diverse stakeholder groups drawn from Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Mombasa attended the workshop. They represented both public departments and civil society institutions focusing on education, early childhood and special needs.  Participants also included members of faith-based organisations and networks. The baseline highlights was presented by the study lead, Dr Sheila Wamahiu. The workshop also benefited from the contributions of Mr Atrash Ali, Mr. Daniel Muraya and Ms Angela Mumo --- all from the Aga Khan Foundation, East Africa --- who shared the overall organisational and project background with participants, and facilitated the meeting.

The baseline study reported on the status of values teaching in selected primary and secondary schools in Mombasa and Kwale. Specifically, the focus was on

• Understanding how the study participants understood values to mean
• Which values they considered to be important in and out of school
• How, in their understanding, acquiring values shaped attitudes and behaviour
• What approaches and methods were used to teach and nurture values

The study was guided by a mixed method design. Data was collected from the field (Kwale and Mombasa) using survey questionnaires administered to heads of and teachers from sampled primary and secondary schools, secondary school learners and community youth group members. Story telling was used to solicit for the views of learners in standard 1 and 2. Qualitative data collection involved use of individual and group interviews and discussions with learners; teachers; primary school head teachers and secondary principals; community youth group members as well as community and religious leaders. Unstructured observations (classrooms, playgrounds) and school and community walkabouts were also conducted.

The fieldwork, which was conducted during the last week of March, was preceded by a three-day orientation workshop for the 19 research team members. The study team included Jaslika co-associates and affiliates, Dr Ahmed Ferej, Elizabeth Njuguna, Samuel Mukundi, Ernest Onguko and Concilliah Indoshi, Conrad Watola, Karuru and Ali Wamahiu, who participated variously as in the research, monitoring and analysis processes.