Thursday August 24, 2017

By Ouma Wanzala

Teaching of science subjects in secondary schools is set to be done through the use of ICT as the government steps up efforts to make learning attractive

Procurement of modern learning equipment such as laptops and LCD for use in teaching has begun under an ambitious programme that targets more than 100 schools.

“We are going to provide modern chemistry, physics and biology learning material to schools at an estimated cost of sh54 million,” said Mr. Stephen Njoroge, the director of the centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA)

Mr. Stephen Njoroge Director, CEMASTEA addressing School principals and BOM during the STEM Sensitization workshop. [Dan Orero/CEMASTEA]

Mr. Njoroge said the initiative also aims to ensure learning of science subjects in schools is

hands-on and students can create jobs while still in school. More than 306 teachers from the 102 model schools have since undergone a one-week training course to prepare them for the rollout. The training was conducted in Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nyeri, Embu, Kakamega, Kisumu and Thika.

Change methods

The initiative spearheaded by CEMASTEA seeks to set up Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (STEM) model schools and changing the way the subjects are taught.

Statistics show 22 per cent of students at local universities are taking science courses, compared to 70 per cent in the “Asian Tiger” nations such as South Korea and Singapore.