HERI Africa will convene senior education leaders, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and practitioners on Friday, 31st July 2026 at the University of Embu, for the Foundational Numeracy Stakeholder Validation Forum, an important milestone in strengthening foundational learning in Kenya.
The forum will offer stakeholders the opportunity to review, validate, and enrich the proposed Foundational Numeracy Initiative, ensuring it is evidence-informed, responsive to classroom realities, and aligned with national education priorities. The initiative aims to improve foundational numeracy outcomes by fostering collaboration among government institutions, academia, schools, and education partners.
The validation forum will bring together leadership from the State Department for Basic Education, key education agencies including the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Teacher Service Commission (TSC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), and CEMASTEA, alongside regional and county education officials, school leaders, researchers, and development partners.
Representatives from county education offices across Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka Nithi will also participate, reflecting the initiative’s commitment to ensuring local perspectives help shape the programme before implementation.
A major highlight of the forum will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Embu and the Peter Tabichi Foundation. The partnership will formalise collaboration between the two organisations to advance foundational numeracy through research, innovation, knowledge exchange, and evidence-informed implementation.
The forum will also bring together respected education experts and partners, including representatives from Strathmore University and Mizizi Elimu Afrika, whose expertise will help strengthen the initiative’s design and implementation framework.
The proposed Foundational Numeracy Initiative builds on HERI Africa’s commitment to strengthening educational research and translating evidence into practical solutions that improve learning outcomes. Through collaborative partnerships, the initiative aims to support teachers, schools, education systems, and policymakers in developing sustainable approaches to improving numeracy among young learners.
By working together across institutions, HERI Africa and its partners aim to build a stronger foundation in numeracy, helping every learner develop the mathematical skills essential for lifelong learning, future employment, and national development.