CEMASTEA seeks additional funding to upgrade and retrain Grade 10 educators.

CEMASTEA seeks additional funding to upgrade and retrain Grade 10 educators.

The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) seeks increased financial resources to upgrade and retrain instructors for the Grade 10 curriculum.

Martin Mungai, the Deputy Coordinator for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at CEMASTEA, stated that for the Curriculum-Based Competency (CBC) syllabus to be successful, teachers must be adequately equipped.

While speaking at a weeklong workshop for Principals in Lamu County, Mungai emphasized the necessity for equipment and additional facilities, such as laboratories, to ensure a smooth transition and adoption of STEM subjects within the CBC curriculum.

“There is a necessity for teachers, particularly in junior secondary schools, to undergo retraining so that STEM subjects can be fully integrated into the CBC programme as it currently stands,” Mungai remarked.

He urged teachers to maintain an open and positive attitude towards the CBC programme as it progresses.

Shumi Mohammed, Deputy Director of the Department of Education in Lamu, indicated that educators require guidance on the methods for teaching and implementing the CBC.

Mohammed mentioned that significant outreach efforts are currently in progress to guarantee the successful implementation of the new syllabus in Lamu.

“Such workshops offer educators valuable insights into the appropriate teaching methods for the CBC, and also encourage collaboration among teachers, parents, and school administrators.

According to Mohammed, if teachers adopt a more positive stance towards the CBC programme, particularly concerning STEM instruction, students are more likely to thrive due to the student-centered nature of CBC, as opposed to the tutor-focused approach of the 8-4-4 system.