Written by: Njeri Mburu and Ann Mumbi, CEMASTEA

CEMASTEA held a 2021 stakeholder's workshop at Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru County on the 14^th and 15^th January 2022. The workshop's theme was “Enhancing the Management of SMASE Activities at the County Level for Quality Teaching and Learning”. The two-day workshop's objectives included, Sharing experiences on the management of SMASE programs at the County level; Enhancing mechanisms for sustainable management of SMASE programs; Harmonise understanding of the SMASE funding, budgeting and accounting for SMASE funds. 

Regional Directors of Education, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Regional Directors, County Directors of Education, TSC County Directors, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairs, County Quality Assurance Standard Officers (CQASOs), and other guests from the Ministry of Education attended the workshop.

The Chief Guest for the opening ceremony was Director-General, State Department Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Elyas Abdi. He lauded CEMASTEA for holding the annual stakeholders’ workshops to review its programs, quoting: “What gets measured gets done”. While there are many stakeholders in the sector, teachers were the most critical link to good performance and there is the constant need to support them. He also noted that through the SMASE program, there was a notable improvement in mathematics and science subjects. The Government, he reported, was ready to support the SMASE program since it had an impact on the economy of the country. In attendance was the TSC CEO, represented by Madam Jane Njagi, the TSC Regional Director, Nairobi County. In her remarks, she appreciated that the participants through the workshop would be sharpened to work better in their counties and improve learning.

Director CEMASTEA, Madam Jacinta L. Akatsa, reported that CEMASTEA had re-engineered its processes to ensure continuity during the COVID-19 period. She appreciated the immense support from the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission and the County Teacher Capacity Development Committees (CTCDC) in implementing the online programs. 

The message from the Chief Guest TSC CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia delivered by Madam Jane Njagi, TSC Regional Director, Nairobi County emphasized the Commission’s commitment on implementation of continuous Teacher Professional Development (TPD). The Chief Guest recognized the role CEMASTEA continues to play in institutionalizing regular INSET for mathematics and science for teachers. She appealed to the participants to continue working together to entrench effective implementations of the curriculum in schools.

CEMASTEA staff facilitated the workshop's sessions. Sessions included Feedback on 2020/ 2021 SMASE Activities, Financial and Audit Reports and Upcoming SMASE activities. There were sessions and sensitizations on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Competency-Based Curriculum, the implementation of STEM Pathway in Senior Secondary and related learning areas in Junior Secondary.

Njeri Mburu and Ann Mumbi, CEMASTEA

Stakeholders following the proceedings of the workshop