Article written by: Dan Orero, Winfred Magu and Patrick Wanjohi

Photos by: Dan Orero, Winfred Magu and Patrick Wanjohi

Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CEMASTEA) whose mandate is to provide Teacher Professional Development (CPD) has partnered with Education Development Trust to train upper-grade primary school teachers of mathematics and science from selected schools in Kenya on Gender-responsive pedagogy; Activity-based learning and improvisation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education.

The training affirms the role of both institutions in encouraging gender balance and equality in STEM fields. The training will lay a foundation for the implementation of the ‘Quality Gender-responsive STEM education’ course for primary school teachers. This is to be achieved by:

1. Equipping teachers with skills to deliver activity-oriented teaching that is gender-responsive and aligned to the Competency-Based Curriculum Framework.
2. Sustaining reflective practices among STEM teachers
3. Creating communities of practice in schools and clusters.

THEME: Towards developing a quality gender-responsive STEM education through learner-centered teaching and learning practices

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. Enhance teachers’ understanding of factors that influence boys’ and girls’ participation, learning achievement and continuation in STEM education, and the current situation in respective counties.
2. Develop participants’ capacity to foster gender-responsiveness among learners, along with the knowledge and skills needed to advance the quality of, and gender-responsive STEM education.
3. Enhance teachers’ skills in learner-centered teaching methods.
4. Enhance peer support among trainers for effective delivery of school-based INSET.

VENUES: The training will be offered in six different venues namely: Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Turkana, Tana River and Isiolo.

DATES OF THE TRAINING:  18^th- 22^nd November 2019

#QualityGenderResponsiveSTEMEducation

Turkana County

One hundred and twenty teachers of maths and science drawn from three sub-counties  are undertaking the week-long training on Quality Gender-Responsive STEM Education and some of the units  include STEM Education in Kenya, Introduction to CBC in Kenya, Gender and STEM Education, Active Learning Strategies, Gender-Responsive Pedagogy, Gender- Responsive Teaching and Learning Resources for STEM Education Promoting Professional Learning Communities through School-Based Lesson Study and Bridging Theory to Implement Pedagogy

While speaking to participants during the opening ceremony on Quality Gender-Responsive STEM Education course for primary school teachers the Chief Guest Mr. Langat Cheruiyot TSC- CD Turkana County,  affirmed one of the main roles that teachers play in impacting the lives of learners’ and improving the lives of members of the society. Mr. Cheruiyot reminded them that STEM is an enabler to realize Vision 2030 and this can only be achieved through concerted efforts to build the capacity of teachers in STEM subjects. He mentioned that in Turkana County, various schools had been identified to serve as INSET centres and STEM Model Schools which have been equipped and a number of their teachers have been trained by CEMASTEA.

In addition, he lauded the inclusion of Primary Schools in SMASE programme which was earlier targeting maths and science teachers’ in secondary schools. “Bringing on board the primary schools shows continual improvement” Mr. Cheruiyot noted.

He further challenged the participants’ to continually improve themselves and compared the various educational systems such as the 7.6.3, 8-4-4 and now Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that is being implemented. The other systems have been phased out due to the changing needs of the society, and now CBC has incorporated STEM to cater to these changes. The Chief Guest applauded CEMASTEA and Education Development Trust for organizing capacity building programmes for teachers.

Mr. Langat Cheruiyot, TSC- CD Turkana County speaking to the participants’ during the opening ceremony in Turkana

Ms. Jane Rose Tioko, Principal Education Officer urged the participants’ to cascade the skills and knowledge acquired to their various schools. She encouraged them to work as a team so that we see an improvement in the performance of mathematics and science subjects. Madam Tioko, appreciated the efforts and impact of EDT programmes in Turkana County as this was evident in the good examination results from the schools they have partnered with.

Ms. Jane Rose Tioko, Principal Education Officer Turkana County making her remarks during the opening ceremony

Mr. Thomas Opiyo Regional Coordinator Education Development Trust welcomed the participants’ from the three (3) sub-counties and shared the midline report. He stated that good results had been realised in Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA) for classes 5, 6 and 7 and that the region had ranked position 1 out of eight (8) regions. In Samoa Early Grade Assessment (SEGRA), Mr. Opiyo noted that Difference in Difference (DID) between comparison and intervention schools ranked four out of eight with a mean of 3.6 which was fairly good. In addition, enhanced instructional competencies were realised among fifty-two primary school teachers trained by CEMASTEA. Finally, there was notable progress among the twenty-four, Heads of Department in learner-centred approaches in their schools.

Mr. Thomas Opiyo, Regional Coordinator Education Development Trust, Turkana County making his remarks during the opening ceremony

Activities

Participants drawn from the three sub-counties namely; Turkana South, Loima and Turkana East engaged in various activities that involved group discussions, gallery walks and SWAP-STAT in order to deepen their knowledge on two sessions which are STEM Education in Kenya and Introduction to Competency-Based Curriculum in Kenya.

Participants discussing SWAP-STAT in their various sub-counties

Participants taking a gallery walk showing a representation of gender balance on Science and Mathematics in their various clusters

Participants’ pairing and sharing to discuss ideas during the training

Mr. Ogwel Ateng, National Trainer, CEMASTEA facilitating the session on STEM education in Kenya

Mr. John Odhiambo, National Trainer, CEMASTEA taking participants through a session on Introduction to Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya

A participant preparing and presenting a group report on components of CBC education

TANA RIVER COUNTY

The participants are teachers drawn from three sub counties each having several clusters as follows;

1. Tana North Sub County. Clusters include; Walesorea, Chewele, Madogo , Hirimani, Nanighi
2. Tana River Sub County. Clusters include ; Galole central , Galole East , Galole West, Galole South, Galole North
3. Tana Delta Sub County. Clusters include; Chara, Garsen, Kipini , Kofira, Tarasaa, Ozi

One hundred and ten teachers are undertaking the training

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was graced by the Tana River TSC County Director Mr. Aneriko Maloba and his deputy Dr. William Yator.  Mr. Phillip Maate, the team leader introduced the team of facilitators from the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA). Mr. Karanja, a senior coach from Education Development Trust (EDT) introduced the participants by their clusters and invited Mr. Newton Mwashemu, EDT to make a brief remarks.

While making his remarks, the Chief Guest, Mr. Aneriko Maloba TSC County Director, Tana River urged the participants to cascade the training in their schools. He stated that it was a privilege for the teachers to be selected to attend such capacity building forums. He encouraged the teachers that in addition to  syllabus coverage, they ensure that learning takes place and the learner is able to acquire required competencies. He emphasized that teachers need to create an environment where learning actually takes place and should only play a facilitator’s role. He finalized by reminding the teachers on the importance of lesson observation as it serves to improve teaching and learning at the classroom level and concluded by declaring the training officially opened.

Chief Guest, Mr. Aneriko Maloba TSC County Director, Tana River addressing the participants and officiating the opening of the training

The deputy TSC County Director Dr. William Yator On his part, appreciated the Education Development Trust for organizing the workshop in partnership with CEMASTEA for facilitating the training. He observed the similarity between CEMASTEA’s ASEI-PDSI approach and Competency Based Curriculum towards enhancing learner centered pedagogy. He also stated that the impact of the training should be reflected in the performance of the schools where the participating teachers are drawn from. “We will monitor to ensure the performance improves”, he stressed

Chief Guest, Mr. Aneriko Maloba TSC County Director, Tana River addressing the participants and officiating the opening of the training

Dr. William Yator, Deputy TSC County Director, Tana River addressing the participants

Mr. Newton Mwashemu, Education Development Trust  addressing the participants

Activities

Mr. Phillip Maate, National Trainer, CEMASTEA facilitating a session on STEM Education in Kenya

Participants engaging in a SWAP -STAT activity during a session on STEM Education in Kenya

Participants engaging in a gallery walk activity

Madam Rahab Chiira, National Trainer, CEMASTEA facilitating a session on Competency-Based Curriculum in Kenya

Mombasa County

Opening Ceremony

The Quality Gender-Responsive STEM Education Training course taking place from 18^th - 22^nd November 2019 in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Turkana, Tana River and Isiolo counties is aimed at developing quality gender-responsive STEM education through learner-centered teaching and learning practices.

A section of the participants during the opening ceremony of the Quality Gender-Responsive STEM Education Training course in Mombasa city

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the chief guest, TSC-CD Mombasa represented by the Ms. Mishi Ali the TSC Curriculum Support Officer, Tononoka sub-county encouraged the participants to understand the individual learner’s needs and help them grow. She informed them to use ICT tools to help expose the learners’ and be committed to improving learning outcomes through reflective teaching. She lauded Education Development Trust (EDT) and the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) for organising the training.

Mrs. Mishi Ali, CSO - Tononoka representing the County Director TSC during the opening ceremony

The other speakers emphasized the importance of competency Based Curriculum around STEM education

On her part, Ms. Mwanaisha Abdul, CSO Changamwe sub-county appreciated the participants for attending the training and mentioned the effort teachers are putting towards the available programmes to become a better team by enhancing, developing themselves and acquiring more skills as they implement Mathematics and Science. She encouraged them to take the programme positively, be more innovative and be able to implement and help the learners become better in Science and Mathematics.

Madam Mwanaisha Abdul, CSO Changamwe sub-county while making her remarks during the opening ceremony of the Quality Gender-Responsive STEM Education training course

Mrs. Sichangi lauded Education Development Trust (EDT) for partnering with the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) to continue building the capacity of teachers. She encouraged the participants to focus and tap the best of out of the one week course and in turn help the learners.

She promised them more support as they go through the training and prepare for the implementation. She said that even as the girls’ are empowered, we need to take the issues of boys’ and champion them to greater heights of learning STEM areas.

Mrs. Mary Sichangi, Head, Partnerships and Linkages, CEMASTEA making her remarks during the opening ceremony in Mombasa

Ms. Regina, the EDT regional coordinator, Coast appreciated the quality work that CEMASTEA was doing and appreciated the partnership arrangement. She thanked the TSC for allowing them to organize the training, appreciated the participants and emphasizing that there cannot be transition from one level to another without retaining girls’ in schools. 

 She echoed that the only thing that will change the destiny of the girls’ is education and the teaching profession must play a big role to ensure that happens. She assured the participants of the EDT support in ensuring the success of the training.

Ms. Regina Kisilu, the EDT regional coordinator Coast making her remarks during the opening ceremony

The participants later indulged in discussing the importance of STEM education and the current efforts to realise Kenya’s development goals and United Nations Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).

Mr. Daniel Matiri, National trainer, CEMASTEA taking the participants through a session

SWAP-STAT

The objective of the activity was to familiarise the participants with key data related to girls’ and boys’ in STEM education as well as examine participants’ own level of familiarity about girls’ and boys’ education and STEM-based careers.

Participants engaged in the SWAP-STAT activity during the training

World Café/Knowledge Café

Participants worked in groups to discuss with individuals switching tables periodically and getting introduced to the previous discussion at the "host table".

Gallery walk on the county situation

The activity enables the participants to understand the gender-related situation in STEM education in participating clusters, as shared by participants.

Participants going through the Gallery Walk and analysing data on the county situation

The participants also delved into discussing the need for curriculum reform and some reasons that led to change from 8.4.4 to the Competence-Based Curriculum.

Mr. Martin Mungai, national trainer, CEMASTEA taking the participants through the curriculum reforms

A participant presenting some of the reasons that led to change in the Curriculum