CEMASTEA to Train 9,639 JSS Teachers on Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)
The Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) intends to train 9,639 junior school (JSS) teachers across the country to provide them with practical skills and knowledge for effectively implementing STEM education under the Competency Curriculum (CBC).
Pre-technical studies, agriculture, and nutrition instructors who wish to enhance their teaching and learning skills using learner-centered methodologies are the target audience for the program, “Enhancing Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) for Effective Implementation of the CBC in JSS.”
Patrick Kogolla, Deputy Director of Training at CEMASTEA, stated that JSS teachers play an important role in laying the groundwork for CBC, and that the training will help 60 percent of students transition to the STEM pathway in senior school by addressing issues related to the learners’ capacity, interests, and needs.
He stated, “These trainings aim to enhance teaching, encouraging more students to choose the STEM pathway in senior high school.”
The Deputy Director of Training said that CEMASTEA is currently holding a four-day regional training for 292 county trainers in Machakos, Naguru, and Kisumu, who will then disseminate the training to teachers in all 47 counties.
Speaking today at Machakos University during a workshop for 92 county trainers from 17 counties, Kogolla explained that the goal of the trainings is to help teachers comprehend the JSS curriculum designs created by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), as well as how to interpret the designs and apply learner-centered pedagogies, which are fundamental CBC principles.
The Deputy Director of Training emphasized that learner-centered pedagogies position the child at the core of the learning process in the classroom. He noted that this approach is crucial as it fosters active participation among learners and facilitates the development of essential skills.
He added that the training will also include the integration of digital literacy, which is a core skill at CBC.
“The teachers will be trained on how to integrate ICT in teaching and learning for improved learning outcomes,” he stated. He stated that training will begin in the counties next week.
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During the official opening of the Machakos regional county trainers workshop, Dr. Elyas Abdi, Director General of the Ministry of Education, stated that CBC aligns with the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) in developing interventions aimed at growing the economy and improving citizens’ welfare.
In a speech read on his behalf by Hellen Avisa, Deputy Head of JS, Dr.Elyas reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to supporting CEMASTEA’s STEM education programs under the CBC.
“The ministry is also keen on addressing inequalities to achieve a level playing field for learners,” he went on to say.
Dr. Elyas emphasized the need to implement learner-centered solutions, stating that this approach assures inclusiveness and actively engages learners, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate today’s dynamic environment.
The director also emphasized the use of technology in teaching and learning to grab and sustain learners’ attention spans in the twenty-first century.
He did, however, acknowledge that the ability of JS instructors to properly integrate technology remains a key concern, and praised CEMASTEA for producing programs with the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning practices in the implementation of STEM education in JS.
“There’s also a need for teachers to create communities of practice to deliver quality STEM education,” Dr. Elias stated.
The director advocated for mentorship and guidance in STEM-related professions for young people to ensure that they capitalize on their abilities and pursue possibilities both locally and globally while contributing to the economy.
Dr. Elias stated that mentorship and advice in STEM subjects is one of the most rapidly expanding ways to get young people interested in educational prospects and global competitiveness. He emphasized that this approach will reduce the dilution of the talent pipeline, which continues to harm the economy.
Dr. Elyas expressed optimism that the program would provide the teachers with new insights and practical skills to improve learning outcomes.
Maina Cliff, a teacher at Bishop Njenga Mixed Secondary School and a JSS county trainer for agriculture and nutrition in Taita Taveta, believes that new teaching methodologies that incorporate inquiry-based learning will shift the focus from the teachers to the students, keeping them engaged throughout the learning process.
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Cliff stated that the old methodology of teaching, which heavily relied on lecturing, made students passive. However, with the new strategies, the students actively participate and gain practical skills that can enhance their creativity and innovativeness.
He further stated that the training will help to fill gaps in STEM education at CBC.
The trainer explained that the training will improve their pedagogical skills and, in turn, enhance the content delivery of the curriculum through student-oriented approaches.
These approaches will give learners hands-on, practical skills that can help them solve emerging problems in society.
CEMASTEA to Train 9,639 JSS Teachers on Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)
