KENYAN SHORTLISTED FOR GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE

A Kenyan teacher with a passion for Special Needs Education has been shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize. Millicent Cassianes is based at BL Tezza Complex Primary school in Nyatike constituency in Migori County.

Millicent graduated from Narok Teachers Training Collage and began her career at Amoyo Primary School and later at Senye Special Unit still Migori County.

Millicent was inspired to become a teacher just like her parents were, and chose special needs education to serve the vulnerable group. She enrolled at the Kenya Institute of Special Education for a diploma in special needs education, specialized in learning difficulties. Later she went to Kenya Methodist University for a degree in inclusive education, guidance and counseling.   

Millicent says she felt compelled to help children with special needs in her village who were neglected with no access to education and making their way through life impoverished, abandoned, uneducated, malnourished, discriminated against, neglected and vulnerable, life a daily struggle to survive. Such conditions exposed them to the risk of missing out on their childhood, as well as being excluded from essential services such as hospitals and schools, lacking the protection of family and community and often at risk of exploitation and abuse. Noting her efforts, further deaf children were brought forward to her from the community who had been hidden, which inspired her to start a school for the deaf.