GRAND ACHIEVEMENT AS THE BRAINS BEHIND DALC GETS

							HISTORY MADE AS THE FIRST MINI-INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION IN
AFRICA TAKES PLACE, NAIROBI, 26TH MARCH, 2010

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT AS THE MAN BEHIND GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION
ADVOCACY IN AFRICA GETS RECOGNITION




The Conference for the Gifted and Talented Children which was held at the Hilton hotel
on the 26th March, 2010, marked a significant leap in the realization of African Gifted
and Talented. It was also a boon for DALC Education (www.dalcafrica.com )and its
founder Prof. Humphrey Oborah’s (www.humphreyoborah.com ) dream to reform the
conventional education system in Africa.


The high ranked conference which was organized through the combined efforts of the
African Council for the Gifted and Talented (ACfGT) with the support of The World
Council for the Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC) (www.world-gifted.org ) and
DALC Education Trust saw Professor Humphrey Oborah unveiled as the first President
of The Council for Gifted and Talented in Africa.


Oborah who is the brains behind DALC Education Trust and organizer of the historic
event, has over the years dedicated extensive research in a bid to come up with an
appropriate education system that is devoid of negative backlash that is synonymous to
the current conservative system. He is also acknowledged for his efforts to provide
solutions that impinge on the present education system through his weekly programmes
on National Kenyan Television, in the programme: The Class.
During the historic conference in Africa, and using emotive and eloquent speech Prof.
Oborah recollected on how he was certain that the ideas he championed would one day
bear sweet fruits despite the hurdles on the way. He also highlighted the challenges that
gifted children face in normal educational settings as they are always mistaken by peers
and foes alike.


“Most of the children who are restless have been found to be gifted and talented.” he said


He thus advocated for a shift of focus to gifts and talents as they bring out creativity and
innovation which are essential for the development Kenya and Africa at large.


“Our political, societal and economic fabric will never grow unless we tap into the
knowledge of the gifted and talented”, he counseled.


During the conference, Hon. Alfred Khang’ati, the Assistant minister in the Office of the
Prime Minister who was representing the Prime Minister as the Guest of Honor, pointed
out that parents were amongst those who hinder the development of their children’s
talents by discouraging them on activities such as sports, drama and music. He urged
parents and education stakeholders to acknowledge that it is indeed talents that have
developed regions in the country giving a classic example of Eldoret Town (where top
atheletes like Moses Tanui, Paul Tergat, Chelimo, etc come from); which has been
developed by sports athletes. He also outlined how the government was making strides in
the recognition of gifts and talents and assured the Government’s commitment to working
with the council.


The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children’s Executive Administrator, Dr.
Catherine Froese Klassen, (who travelled from Canada with a team of officials to witness
this launch) gave the councils objectives and its background. She also applauded Prof.
Oborah for working hard to give a voice a voice to gifted and talented children.
It was also during the speeches that Prof. Ken Mc Cluskey who is a Dean and Professor
of Education at the University of Winnipeg and a senior member of the World Council
for Gifted and Talented , underscored with profound examples the importance of
assessing children for gifts and talents in order to nurture and develop them.
The Kenya Ministry of Education was not left behind as its representative, Prof. Harry
Kaane, who is the Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and
Technology, highlighted the state of the education in Africa and how most African
talents are being used to develop the western countries yet Africans wallow in problems
synonymous developing nations. He in retrospect commended the World Council for the
Gifted and Talented Children for their efforts to recognize the gifts and talents in Africa.


Mrs. Elizabeth Wafula (Assistant Commission Secretary, Commission for Higher
Education, Kenya (www.che.or.ke)) represented the Commission Secretary / CEO, Prof.
Everret Shitanda, MBS. In his speech Prof. Shitanda acknowledged the importance of
Gift and Talent Testing, noting that higher education in Africa lacked equity and in
danger of marginalization. He further acknowledged the importance Gift and Talent
Testing would play to bridge this gap. In her own speech Mrs. Wafula gave a moving
speech about stigmatization of girls in rural Kenyan schools and how gifted girls would
finally opt out schools due to lack of early assessments for gifts and talents .


Other extinguished guests included; Mrs Patricia Magara who is the Deputy Register
General in Uganda and other professors from The University of Winnipeg and senior
members of The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children.


The conference whose main aim was to launch the African Secretariat for Gifted and
Talented was preceded by well attended, educative workshops which took place on the
24th and 25th March at the Visa Oshwal Religious Centre; where renowned professors
gave talks on different issues affecting gifted and talented children.
Prof. Oborah’s new position as the President of the African Council for the Gifted and
Talented places him in a position where he will be able to fully focus on the area of gift
and talents amongst the African Children and more so Kenya.


The DALC Education is the first educational institution in Kenya that assesses students
for their gifts and talents prior to their admission in a process that is key in career
forecasting and course specialization.


African Council for the Gifted and Talented (ACfGT, www.giftedafrica.com ) is a bon a
fide affiliate of the world Council for Gifted and Talented Children as can be viewed
from this link (www.world-gifted.org/affilliates)