By: Augustine Oduor

August 26 2017

The government is equipping selected secondary schools with modern learning tools that will make Mathematics and Science easy and enjoyable. Each of the 102 schools selected in every county will get modern equipment for Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Information and Communication Technology.

The items are part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) project being implemented by the Ministry of Education. The programme is being rolled out by the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA). At least two schools were selected in each of the 47 counties for the pilot stage.

Esther Nyambura ICT officer CEMASTEA interacting with robots during The STEM Sensitization workshop. [Dan Orero/CEMASTEA]

The Ministry of Education initiated the Stem Model Schools intervention programme to enhance learners’ capability in Science and Mathematics, CEMASTEA Director, Mr Stephen Njoroge said each of the selected schools will get laptops, LCD projectors, digital cameras, white-boards, light microscopes, photometers, biological models, and preserved specimens. Also, to be provided are thermometers and stop watches to make learning cool. Mr Njoroge said the Government has already started to procure the modern learning equipment

“We are going to provide modern Chemistry, Physics And Biology leaning materials to schools at an estimated cost of Sh54 million,” said Mr Njoroge

CEMASTEA was allocated Sh32 million in the 2016/2017 financial year to implement the project. In the 2017/2018 financial year, the centre has been allocated Sh58 million. The centre has already developed a Stem module and is conducting training of teachers and sensitization of stakeholders. The training will end this month, Mr Njoroge said more than 306 teachers have undergone one-week training ahead of the roll out. The training was conducted in Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nyeri, Embu, Kakamega, Kisumu, and Thika.