Reconsidering a Case of Strengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE) Projects in Kenya from the Perspective of Endogenous Development

<p>Due to its limited duration of international cooperation, recipient country stakeholders must undertake necessary measures upon its completion. Thus, it is crucial to generate self-reliance and sustainability throughout the cooperation period. This paper centers on endogenous development theory, which associates self-reliance and sustainability. It aims to analyze a case of “Strengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE)” Projects in Kenya from the perspectives of endogenous development and education borrowing theories. The objective of promoting research on endogenous development is to shift the view towards developing countries and explore the role, differentiation, and relationship of international cooperation within the context of educational development history in those nations. The study also sought suggestions for future research that reconsiders international educational cooperation from an endogenous development perspective. This paper defines endogenous development in education as “the conscious and proactive process that a society, country or region engages in internal and external interactions to critically examine, accept, revise, and construct its knowledge and systems, from its own context and others”. </p><p>We conducted an analysis through a case study of SMASSE Projects, Phase 1(1998 - 2003), Phase 2 (2003 - 2008), and Phase 3 (2009 - 2013), focused on secondary mathematics and science in-service teacher training in Kenya by a literature review of publicly available information such as reports, websites, and newsletter. The data analysis findings substantiated that the in-service teacher training programs have undergone an initiative-taking process of revision and construction by Kenyan stakeholders, commencing with the JICA project and persisting to the present. The attitude of the experts, who delegated the initiative and decision-making to counterparts, could have contributed to the observed process.</p>