Thousands of mathematics and science teachers from 27 Counties have been taught on how to make the subjects more interesting and attractive. The training was organised by the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA).
The week long training sessions at select schools under the umbrella of Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) project saw principals, their deputies and heads of departments with 21 years experience and above hone their skills to accommodate more input from students as opposed to spoon feeding to pass examinations.
“SMASE encourages innovation, creativity and participation, removing the wrong notion that the teacher is an island of knowledge,” said CEMASTEA Director Mr Stephen Njoroge at Tala Girls’ High School in Machakos County where 93 teachers drawn from five Sub Counties underwent training. He urged heads of schools adequately equipped with facilities such as laboratories to share them with less endowed schools in their neighborhoods. “Feel free to share even teachers where possible because mathematics and science are still starved of skillful teachers,” said Mr Njoroge. He advised Science and mathematics teachers never to paint the subjects as too tough or complicated for average students by setting unnecessarily complicated tests or awarding discouragingly poor marks after routine tests.
