The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) has launched free online webinar series on "Educational Innovation in STEM: Towards Enhancing Continual Learning during Crisis Times". The well-paced five day hands / minds-on training is staggered to twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday East Africa Time. The course attracted over 450 participants who include; ministry of education officials, university lecturers, directors in charge of mathematics and science education, teacher trainers, school principals, teachers, quality assurance officers, and NGOs all drawn from 19 countries. For effective learning interactions, they have been grouped into cohorts of 100 each. The one-month online webinar series will discuss pedagogical entrepreneurship cycle that supports blended learning. The following are snap shots of the second session of cohort two held on 6^th August, 2020.

The chief guest, Mr. Abdi, the Director General, Ministry of Education, Kenya presided over the opening ceremony of the ongoing online webinar training and informed the participants that the educationists are devising innovative ways of delivering curriculum without face to face interaction between the learners and the teachers. “It is important to provide continuity of learning despite all the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic” He said that it is good to keep the learners busy not only through academic learning but also through life skills. He mentioned that home schooling which was only limited to a few has since changed overtime thereby giving us a glimpse on how education could change for the better in the long run. He lauded the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) for being in the forefront of utilizing technology and reaching out to teachers and education stakeholders wherever they are giving an opportunity to perfect on technology and building on the future systems of education. He thanked the Director CEMASTEA, the team and partners for coming up with the noble idea of virtual sessions not only for STEM subjects, but also useful in other subjects in the curriculum.

The opening keynote was delivered by Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa the Director, Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA). In her speech she delved on supporting learning continuity through education innovation in STEM through experiences and innovations. The speech focused participants on the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities during a crisis. She encouraged the participants to develop innovative solutions and actions to address the need and mitigate the effects of the long school closure.

The team of facilitators taking the participants through sessions:

Participants were divided into discussion group activities in order to apply learnt principles. They also came up with some initiatives that they shared with the members in the group.

Participants in group activities

Article by Mrs. Mary Sichangi, Coordinator Partnerships and Linkages and Dan Orero, Corporate Communications Officer II - CEMASTEA