CEMASTEA Hosts STEM Education Symposium for Teachers
The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) recently organized a symposium for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Secondary Schools science and mathematics teachers from four counties.
The aim was to share best classroom practices and enhance the quality of education.
The event, held at CEMASTEA’s centre in Karen, gathered around 32 teachers from Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu, and Nairobi counties.
The focus was on learner-centered strategies to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as the country transitions to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
CBC and STEM Pathways
Under the CBC, 60 percent of learners will pursue the STEM pathway in Senior School. Teachers were encouraged to adapt to this change by employing innovative methods to simplify complex STEM concepts.
CEMASTEA Chief Executive Officer Jacinta Akatsa emphasized the symposium’s role in empowering teachers with innovative techniques to make abstract STEM subjects more accessible and engaging.
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She noted that technology can help students visualize these concepts, maintaining their interest in STEM subjects.
Akatsa highlighted that the symposium offered teachers a platform to document and critique each other’s lessons, identify gaps, and areas needing improvement.
The event also facilitated collaboration and networking among teachers, with recorded lessons made available in a repository for wider access.
Quality Assurance and CBC Alignment
Dr. Reuben Nthamburi, Director for Quality Assurance and Standards at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), stressed the need for learner-centered strategies under CBC.
He pointed out that these strategies are essential for equipping students with critical skills necessary in today’s dynamic world and align with Vision 2030, which aims to industrialize Kenya and improve socio-economic welfare.
Nthamburi reiterated the importance of teacher professional development within CBC, noting that the symposium would help participants exchange ideas on best classroom practices and improve their pedagogical approaches.
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He called on teachers to integrate the innovative teaching methods learned at the symposium and share these with their colleagues.
Teacher Insights
Jemima Wangui, a teacher from Matasia Girls in Kajiado County, expressed her gratitude for the new insights and practical skills gained from the symposium.
She learned to use inquiry-based learning and planned to develop innovative ways to teach concepts using locally available materials, confident that these strategies would lead to better educational outcomes.
CEMASTEA Hosts STEM Education Symposium for Teachers
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