1,500 students in Kajiado benefit from STEM mentorship program

Janet Rop-KNA

Over 1,500 students from five junior secondary schools in Kajiado County have benefitted from a mentorship and outreach programme by the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA).

The five- day outreach programme in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that kicked off at Enkasiti Junior Secondary School in Isinya Sub- County is among programmes run by the CEMASTEA to inspire and equip learners with practical skills and knowledge needed to excel in STEM subjects.

Other schools that benefited from the outreach include: Kajiado Township, Il Bissil Boarding, Naromoru and Arap Moi Comprehensive Primary Schools.

The outreach covered STEM subjects that include mathematics, integrated sciences (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) and pre- technical studies in Junior School.

 The programme that commenced three years ago has so far been implemented in ten counties including Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Nyeri, Kilifi, Garissa, Baringo, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Uasin Gishu.

STEM Outreach and Mentorship Programme Coordinator, Beatrice Macharia, emphasized the need to strengthen STEM education in Kenya as 60 per cent of learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) are expected to pursue the STEM pathway in Senior School.

The CBC has three pathways including Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences and STEM.

Speaking at Kajiado Township Junior Secondary School, Macharia revealed that the outreach focusses on hands-on learning experiences, emphasizing student engagement in practical activities which allows teachers to observe students’ interests, abilities and personalities thus guide them in their transition into STEM pathways at the senior school level.

“We are emphasizing more on practical rather than theoretical learning to ensure enhanced understanding of concepts in STEM. Through practicals, the teachers can be able to mentor students by observing their abilities and interests and guide them appropriately,” she said.

During the five-day outreach program, CEMASTEA trainers who were equipped with computers, laboratory apparatus, and innovative materials, engaged the learners and teachers in practical activities and experiments to demonstrate and simplify concepts in STEM, making it easier for learners to learn.

Macharia noted that the use of locally available materials in learning concepts in STEM was highly encouraged and urged teachers to become creative by improvising resources to help simplify abstract concepts.

“In schools where learning resources are not available, we encourage teachers to make them using available materials so that they can make teaching practical rather than theoretical. Exposing students to practical experiments and real-world applications makes STEM more relatable and easier to understand,” she said.

Macharia emphasized that integrating models and practical learning demystifies stereotypes that sciences are exclusive to certain groups and help break gender barriers, encouraging both boys and girls to embrace STEM education.

On his part, Kajiado County Director of Education Dr. Martin Cheruiyot emphasized the need to train teachers in STEM subjects as it was crucial in implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.

He lauded the outreach’s efforts in strengthening STEM adding that it would enhance teaching methods, making learning more practical and promoting understanding of various concepts among learners.

The CDE reiterated that outreach emphasizes hands -on learning through practicals thus fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students, helping them relate the concepts they learn in class to real life experiences.

“Incorporating practical classes in learning and the use of visual aids helps learners in remembering concepts and enhancing their memory and as a result helps them develop critical and problem-solving skills which are essential in life,” he said.

Cheruiyot further noted that the transition to junior secondary schools in the county was progressing well with over 500 classes in various schools built to accommodate learners.