The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) has mounted a final national training-of-trainers (TOTs) workshop to improve the delivery of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects as the first cohort of competency-based education (CBE) learners transition to senior secondary school next year.
The four-day In-service Education and Training (INSET) programmed is meant to prepare senior school teachers to receive students in Grade 10 in January as well as prepare science teachers to understand basic curriculum framework and assessment.
Speaking in Kakamega during the opening of a capacity-building seminar for senior school STEM heads of departments, Head of Directorate Senior Secondary Schools, Dr. William Sugut, said a big chunk of the 1,100,030 candidates sitting this year’s Kenya Junior School Assessment (KJSEA) have shown an interest in joining the STEM pathway.
“We are happy a number of our children have shown interest in STEM subjects. We have 569, 000 children, representing 51 per cent of the students in grade nine showing interest to join STEM subjects,” he said.
He said another 437,000 want to pursue social sciences and 151,000 are keen on developing their aptitude for Arts and Sports.
Sugut noted the government, under the CBE system is shifting from an examination- oriented to a competency-oriented education system.
“This is why we have three pathways for the students to choose from, that is Science-based subjects, the Social Sciences and Arts and Sports”.
“The simple reason is, if you say you know how to do it, then do it,” he added.
Dr. Sugut urged science teachers to pay special attention to curriculum design which he said lays out the syllabus that will be used to teach the various traits.
“Remember that these students will come to you, when they have already made up their minds on what to do, please allow them to flourish and support them,” he added.
Dr. Sugut observed that there is also a shift on how assessment will be done in senior school, with 30 percent being formative while 70 percent will be summative assessment”.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CEMASTEA, Jacinta Akatsa, said her organization has already equipped all senior school principals with the requisite knowledge and skills for implementing the competency-based education (CBE).
Akatsa, in a speech read on her behalf by Thuo Karanja, the Coordinator Performance Contracting, challenged the curriculum implementers to ensure every learner is equipped with the skill of critical thinking and problem solving to fit in the digital age.
“CEMASTEA enhances STEM education through investigated research and capacity building for teachers and curriculum implementers across the education subsector and has so far equipped all senior school principals with skills and knowledge for successful implementation of this transition,” she added.
The workshop, whose theme is “Enhancing the capacity of STEM heads of departments to manage transition in competency-based education (CBE)” is being held concurrently in Kakamega, Nakuru and Nairobi with 432 senior science teachers being trained.
By George Kaiga
