What Does This School Need Next?
A more precise approach to school improvement with Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya
Even within the same network.
So what does this school need next?
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
Prepared for: Salman Rajani, CEO, Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya
30 September 2026
What Does This School Need Next?
A more precise approach to school improvement with Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya
Even within the same network.
So what does this school need next?
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The starting point
The opportunity is to make the next investment even more precise.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The challenge
More training helps when training is the constraint.
Change Lens helps establish what the constraint actually is.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The method
The same problem can have a different cause.
Find the one thing.
What is really holding this school back?
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The approach
Knowing the priority is only the start.
Find the right help to act on it.
People. Expertise. Resources. Partners.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The difference
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
ONE BIG CHANGE
Different schools need different things.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The positioning
NEMIS / KEMIS
System and school data
Quality assurance
Performance against standards
Schools2030 / Teacher development
Teacher capability and teacher-led innovation
KPEEL / Existing programmes
Defined equity, resource and system priorities
ONE BIG CHANGE
What does this school need next?
One Big Change helps connect existing support to the school that needs it most.
The aim is not to replace what already exists. It is to help schools use the right support at the right time.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The fit
Kenya already has support.
One Big Change connects the journey.
What does this school need next?
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The value
Understand the underlying issue, not only the symptom.
Know where training, resources or other support will have the greatest value.
Understand what is working well inside AKES and why.
Use evidence from one school to inform others where relevant.
Strong practice becomes visible. Investment becomes more targeted.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The moment
You are already investing.
THE NEXT ADVANTAGE
Know what each school needs next.
AKES could help shape the Kenyan model from the beginning.
Start with one school. Build the evidence.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The first step
AKES gets useful insight from the first school, whether or not the work goes further.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
If it works
We are currently arranging a discussion with the Principal Secretary for Basic Education and other potential partners around the wider One Big Change Kenya approach.
AKES could help shape the Kenyan version from the beginning.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
The close
Atifa + AKES Academic Team + One Big Change
CHANGE LENS
Find the one thing.
ONE BIG CHANGE
Find the right support to act on it.
People. Expertise. Resources. Partners.
ONE BIG CHANGE KENYA
BY LOCAERISE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION
Prepared for: Salman Rajani, CEO, Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya
30 September 2026
A more precise approach to school improvement with Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya
1
Every school is different.
Same curriculum.. Same investment.. Same training.. Different outcomes. So what does this school need next?
2
AKES is already investing in improvement.
Teacher Development, Facilities, CBE Implementation, Maths & Science. The opportunity is to make the next investment even more precise.
3
Sometimes the visible problem is not the real problem.
LOWER MATHS OUTCOMES could be Teacher confidence, Assessment, Timetabling, Leadership or more. Change Lens helps establish what the constraint actually is.
4
Why Change Lens?
The same problem can have a different cause. Teacher practice, Assessment, Leadership, Resources. Find the one thing.
5
Why One Big Change?
Knowing the priority is only the start. ONE PRIORITY → RIGHT SUPPORT → ACTION → RESULT. Find the right help to act on it.
6
What makes this different?
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL: PROGRAMME ↓ SAME RESPONSE ↓ EVERY SCHOOL. ONE BIG CHANGE: THIS SCHOOL ↓ THIS PRIORITY ↓ RIGHT RESPONSE. Different schools need different things.
7
How does One Big Change differ from what already exists?
NEMIS / KEMIS, Quality assurance, Schools2030 / Teacher development, KPEEL / Existing programmes. ONE BIG CHANGE: What does this school need next? Whole-school view, One priority, Right support. One Big Change helps connect existing support to the school that needs it most.
8
Where does One Big Change fit?
Kenya already has support. SCHOOL → CHANGE LENS → RIGHT SUPPORT. What does this school need next?
9
What could this give AKES?
See each school more clearly. Use existing investment more precisely. Surface strong practice. Help learning travel. Strong practice becomes visible. Investment becomes more targeted.
10
Why now for AKES?
You are already investing. Teachers, Facilities, CBE, Maths & science. Know what each school needs next.. Target investment, Surface strong practice, Help learning travel. AKES could help shape the Kenyan model from the beginning.
11
Start with one school.
AKES + Atifa choose the school → We understand what is already happening → Apply Change Lens → Identify one priority → Act → Measure. AKES gets useful insight from the first school, whether or not the work goes further.
12
If it creates value, the learning can travel.
1 AKES SCHOOL → OTHER AKES SCHOOLS → WIDER KENYAN FOUNDING COHORT → EVIDENCE FOR WHAT WORKS. AKES could help shape the Kenyan version from the beginning.
13
The next conversation
Atifa + AKES Academic Team + One Big Change. Where is AKES focusing improvement now? Which school would benefit from a deeper diagnostic view? What would make a first collaboration worthwhile for AKES? CHANGE LENS: Find the one thing.. ONE BIG CHANGE: Find the right support to act on it.. People. Expertise. Resources. Partners.