By John Makanda & Dan Orero

The Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards (DQAS) is mandated to provide advisory services and ensure an integrated and collaborative approach to improving basic education's quality and relevance. The Directorate collaborates with all institutions, practitioners, and critical stakeholders in the education sub-sector. CEMASTEA, in collaboration with the Directorate, organised a three-day workshop for Quality Assurance and Standards Officers. The workshops held from 24^th to 26^th October in four venues, Kakamega, Naivasha, Embu and Machakos, had the theme of strengthening the capacity of QASO to monitor and support the implementation of CBC and STEM activities at the school level.

Director of Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs Evelyne Owoko

The workshops brought together 375 officers and offered an opportunity to share experiences on implementing Competency-Based Curriculum STEM activities and supporting and monitoring SMASE activities at the County level. The workshops also aimed at equipping them with further skills for interpreting curriculum designs for effective monitoring and support at the school level.

STEM activities that promote learner-centred lessons for effective implementation of curriculum; and skills for effective monitoring and support of lesson study. While making her opening remarks to the team that converged in Kakamega, Madam Margaret Muandale, Director of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education, lauded CEMASTEA for her excellent work in enhancing the capacity of QASOs. She noted that the QASOs are essential in ensuring that education programmes are effectively implemented; they also support, mentor and coach teachers. She further advised QASOs to also pay attention to teachers' colleges for enhanced quality of teaching. 

CEMASTEA has trained teachers on using learners-centred strategies such as Inquiry-Based Learning, the 5E instructional model, Lesson study and ICT integration in teaching & learning, among others. Regarding that, the QASOs need to support teachers as they implement CBC and STEM activities in schools, which will, in turn, help transform teaching and learning to achieve the 21st Century outcomes, which include digital literacy, collaboration and formation of communities of practice, among others.

The opening ceremony at Naivasha was presided over by the Director of Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs Evelyne Owoko. The closing ceremony was presided over by the County Director for Education, Nakuru County Mr Fredrick M. Osewe.