By Martin Mungai Ann Mumbi, Winfred Magu and Promina Kauri

Mathematics plays a critical role in development of critical thinking, creative problem solving, and precise communication and collaboration skills. These are important work skills for socio-economic development in the 21st Century.

On Wednesday, 27th July, 2022, students who took part in the CEMC - CEMASTEA Mathematics Contest and showed exemplary performance were awarded trophies and certificates in recognition of their efforts.

The Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) in partnership with Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) which is domiciled at University of WaterLoo in Canada, on 21st May 2022, administered a Maths test to 39 STEM schools. The schools had been purposively selected from a pool of 103 STEM model schools. A total of 796 students undertook the test.

CEMASTEA staff administered the test in the 39 schools in a closely timed session of one hr. Answer sheets were scanned and forwarded to CEMC for marking. 

The overall goal of the contest was to help create positive attitude towards Maths as well as help improve performance in Mathematics. 

The teachers from these selected schools had been taken through a virtual training by Canadian mathematics lectures on creation of Problem Solving questions to help the learners become critical thinkers.  The trained teachers were expected to cascade the knowledge and skills gained to their schools for the overall benefit of the learner.

The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, presided over the awarding ceremony. Mr. Kibet, stated that STEM Education was the only way towards Kenya’s technological and socio-economic development through Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Big 4 agenda.  Mathematics, he noted stands out strong in STEM because it plays a critical role in development of thinking skills, creative problem solving, precise communication as well as teamwork skills for 21st Century socioeconomic development.

Mr. Kibet acknowledged Director CEMASTEA, Mrs Jacinta L. Akatsa, HSC and Hon. Wesley Korir from CEMC and by extension, University of Waterloo - Canada, for coming up with the maths contest initiative which he noted would help the Kenyan learners. He congratulated AIC Chebisaas High School, Ndururumo High school and Nyeri High School for their sterling performance in the contest.

CEMC has Mathematics contests designed for the Canadian child; however, this can be contextualized to fit in with the Kenyan child. He noted that similar initiatives have been established in Rwanda and Ghana through African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).

(Left –right)The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principals, students from Nyeri High School, Ndururumo High school and AIC Chebisaas High School receive awards during the ceremony at CEMASTEA

The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa

Director CEMASTEA with principal and students from Ndururumo High school receive awards during the ceremony at CEMASTEA

The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principal and students from Nyeri High school receive awards during the ceremony at CEMASTEA

The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principal and students from AIC AIC Chebisaas High School receive awards during the ceremony at CEMASTEA

Group Photo
The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principals from AIC Chebisaas High School, Ndururumo High school, CEMASTEA staff and students from Ndururumo High School during the ceremony.

Group Photo
The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principals from AIC Chebisaas High School, Ndururumo High school, CEMASTEA staff and students from Nyeri High School during the ceremony.

Group Photo
The Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Paul Kibet, MoE, Mrs. Jacinta Akatsa Director CEMASTEA with principals from AIC Chebisaas High School, Ndururumo High school, CEMASTEA staff and students from AIC Chebisaas High School during the ceremony

Mr. Martin Mungai, National Trainer CEMASTEA and organizer of the CEMC - CEMASTEA Mathematics Contest speaking during the ceremony