The Government has spent Sh6.1 billion in research projects across the country in the last six years courtesy of the National Research Fund (NRF).
Education CS Prof George Magoha said the government through the research fund, allocated Sh 5.8 billion while Sh284 million was mobilized from development partners.
The CS explained that the research funds were spent mainly in areas of agriculture and natural resource science, biological and health sciences, physical industrial and energy sciences, infrastructure and communication, humanity and social sciences, and earth and space science.
The CS emphasized the importance of research in the education sector saying evidence derived from research projects helps the government come up with actionable policies that address emerging gaps in the sector.
He cited emerging areas of policy concerns in the education sector including psycho-social wellbeing of teachers and learners, community based learning, parental empowerment and engagement, technology – driven learning among others.
In a speech read on his behalf by Principal Secretary State Department For Implementation Of Curriculum Reforms, Prof Fatuma Chege, during the Education Evidence for Action [EE4A] Conference held in Naivasha, the CS said the government was implementing the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) using strict evidence generated by thorough research which was carried out by a national task force that provided a well guided road-map to the Ministry.
He challenged the education stakeholders to be part of Kenyans to be relied upon to generate continuous evidence to guide the CBC in its roll out to the university level.
The CS said that research-based science, technology and innovation remained the game – changing factor to mitigate against the widespread effects of the Covid pandemic that has inflicted many sectors in the economy including the education sector.
He also challenged the National Commission for Science and Technology [NACOSTI], universities and research institutions to collaborate to enhance synergy and come up with strategic options for addressing the pandemic.
The Education Evidence for Action [EE4A] conference established in 2015 ensures optimal utilization of resources and knowledge necessary to change the traditional education culture to one where the use of evidence in research is incorporated into practice.
By Erastus Gichohi and Esther Mwangi
