The Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) has initiated a Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) outreach and mentorship programme to encourage junior school students to embrace science subjects.
The programme’s purpose is to mentor the learners in grades seven, eight, and nine as they prepare to transition to senior school. The government expects that 60% of the students will be able to take the STEM pathway.
CEMASTEA Programme Coordinator Beatrice Macharia said experienced trainers from the institution aim to motivate the young learners by offering ideas and strategies that will help them develop skills such as creativity, innovation, and problem-solving in the STEM subjects and make them understand that STEM was not just formulas and equations but about understanding and application to day-to-day life.
The trainers present and showcase STEM-related activities as dynamic, relevant to their lives, and emphasising hands-on learning, thus fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among the learners.
Speaking when the CEMASTEA team took their training to various junior schools in Uasin Gishu County, the programme coordinator said they hoped their presence would excite the students in science-related subjects to enable them to make informed career choices as they transit to senior school and in their future lives.
Macharia said they intend to visit various schools across all the counties as time goes, but noted that the programme was capital intensive, thus limiting the number of schools they can visit and train annually.
“Our wish is that we get to train teachers who will become trainers in their respective counties so that many schools can benefit and make the programme sustainable.”
The programme benefited five junior schools, including Sugoi, AIC Mois Bridge, St. Georges Kapseret, Munyaka, and Racecourse, in Uasin Gishu County.
Among the counties that have benefitted since the programme started less than two years ago are Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Nyeri, Kilifi, Garissa, Baringo, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Uasin Gishu.
In an interview with KNA, heads of schools visited by CEMASTEA lauded the initiative, saying it was a motivation for teachers and students.
In her remarks, Sugoi Head Teacher Jane Biwott said the coming of the CEMASTEA trainers was an added advantage to her students.
On his part, James Keter of AIC Mois Bridge, David Karanja (Munyaka) and Paul Serem of Racecourse lauded the CEMASTEA initiative, saying it was a good strategy to encourage students to take the STEM pathway.
They were, however, unanimous in calling on the government to increase the number of science teachers, saying they were not adequate to handle the large number of Junior school learners.
They however, thanked the government for providing funds to enable their junior schools to purchase lab equipment but still require more support to establish functional labs.
Students expressed gratitude to the CEMASTEA trainers, saying they had an opportunity to see and practically use lab equipment they had only learnt in theory.
Shaleen Achieng, a grade nine student and school president for Sugoi School, said the trainers took them through Chemistry, Biology, and physics practicals, showing them how to use the various lab equipment correctly.
“They also taught us computer studies practically,” she added.
Her Racecourse counterpart, Fancy Limo, expressed similar sentiments, saying they were motivated by the CEMASTEA practical lessons that she observed, which had changed the perception of most students who perceived science subjects to be difficult, especially the female students.
“Most girls usually consider sciences as only meant for the boys, but what a boy can do, a girl can do better,” she said.
The Competency-based curriculum has three pathways in senior school, including Arts and sports science, social sciences and STEM.
By Kiptanui Cherono
