Busia: As the Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners prepare for transition to Grade 10, the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) has embarked on a transformative initiative in Busia County. The programme, a STEM outreach and mentorship effort, is aimed at demystifying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields for junior school learners, inspiring greater interest and confidence in these subjects.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative, which advocates for innovation and utilisation of available resources in institutions of learning, is championing the hands-on skills by equipping the JSS teachers and learners with knowledge and practical skills in the STEM learning areas. CEMASTEA National Trainer Njeri Mburu says the mentorship programme seeks to motivate young learners by offering ideas and strategies that will help them develop creative, innovative and problem-solving skills in the STEM subjects suitable in the 21st Century job market.
Njeri highlighted that this initiative aims at ensuring 60 per cent of learners across the country transition to the STEM Pathway to be at par with global technological demand and diversifying trends. ‘As we gear up toward the first grade 10 cohort of Senior Secondary Schools, the government is racing against time to ensure the 60 per cent transition to the STEM pathway is attained. This can only be possible through such outreach programmes and sanitisation to arouse the interest and curiosity amongst learners, which will create passion for STEM subjects,’ noted Njeri.
The initiative, spanning Moody Awori, Angoromu, Kisoko Girls, Lukoni, and Ikondokhera Junior schools, addressed the historically low pass rates in science subjects which had been witnessed in most schools in Busia in recent days. Equipped with computers, laboratory apparatus, and innovative materials, CEMASTEA officials engaged learners and teachers in practical activities to foster interest and proficiency in STEM fields.
The schools’ head teachers, led by Felix Malalu, hailed the initiative, noting that it stresses on the importance of cultivating an innovative generation capable of driving technological advancement and development in the country. ‘This outreach not only aroused passion and interest amongst learners in the STEM area, but it has also given our science teacher teaching methodologies and skills on activities in mathematics, innovative activities in integrated science, and ICT,’ noted Malalu. He lauded the inclusion of teachers in the outreach efforts, foreseeing enhancements in teaching methods and the practicality of learning, aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The sentiments were echoed by Deputy Head Teacher at Mood Awori primary school Eunice Bwire, who observed that lack of equipment and resources has contributed to the scarcity of practical learning opportunities in integrated science and mathematics in most government schools. ‘Strengthening STEM subjects: a programme piloted by CEMASTEA is injecting fresh interest in the subjects erstwhile avoided by girls and considered difficult and dull by boys,’ said Bwire. ‘The knowledge on STEM is dynamic and nothing demonstrates that notion better than CEMASTEA’s outreach programmes which give both teachers and learners avenues to experience new methodologies,’ she added.
Science teachers led by Cynthia Adhiambo, Juma Amos, and Grace Kemunto urged the government through CEMASTEA to conduct regular trainings and outreaches for both teachers and learners so as to expose them to different and new innovative teaching and learning approaches. ‘For quality in in-service education and training (INSET), trainers need to be exposed to more training sessions in a timely, efficient and effective manner. This will equip them with numerous approaches on how to handle problems in a specific area of interest,’ noted Adhiambo.