Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Kenya in partnership with Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) held a 3 day workshop from 20th – 22nd September 2017, to explore avenues for collaboration in the implementation of STEM4Peace initiative in high schools at the Kenya Science, Ministry of Education offices in Nairobi.
The workshop gathered education stakeholders from the Kenyan Ministry of Education and NGO’s to traverse the significance of inculcating values based technology training in secondary schools in Kenya to promote ethical societies. These include: Mr. Stephen Njoroge, Director, CEMASTEA, Mr. Daniel Juma, Executive Director, GPF Kenya, Dr. Tom Mboya, Coordinator Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Ms. Diana Kwamboka, Program Assistant, GPF Kenya, Mrs. Amina Sharbaidi, CEMASTEA Trainer in Biology, Mr. Isaac Gathamberi, CEMASTEA National Trainer and Deputy, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and GPF trainers on Entrepreneurship, Technology and Moral and Innovative Leadership.
In his opening remarks Mr. Daniel Juma described the workshop as timely and relevant to the modern world in equipping students with competitive innovation, entrepreneurial and leadership skills relevant to today’s world.
“GPF is helping to drive the Government’s vision to transform education in Kenya by continuously building the capacity of teachers and students as well as creating peaceful environments for learning in schools. Our collective approach to work with stakeholders has been important in advancing this mission. Therefore, GPF will continue to nurture creativity, innovation and build 21st century skills that will help students and teachers prosper,” connoted Mr. Juma.
On the other hand, Dr. Tom Mboya recognized that integrating GPF’s education portfolio augments their efforts in implementing the STEM programs in secondary schools.
“The Ministry of Education has established STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Hubs in high schools across 47 counties with the aim of encouraging more students to uptake STEM programs. CEMASTEA has recognized the value add proposition of Global Peace Foundation in implementing the STEM Hubs that will see GPF offer training to 20% of top trans-formative and pedagogical teachers, offer expertise on Moral and Innovative Leadership and Management best practices to teachers,” acknowledged Dr. Mboya.
The 3 days workshop culminated with the launch of the STEM4Peace program on 21st September in celebration of the 2017 International Peace Day. The program will inculcate aspects of character formation within the study of STEM in our schools. The program aims at enhancing sustainable Peace and Development in schools by harnessing STEM Education to create a culture of peace and inviting school climate. It focuses on developing students of good character and values, innovative and creative minds impacted with 21st century and other Meta skills. The expected outcome of STEM4Peace is a holistic student with knowledge, skills, character and values ready to succeed in every aspect of life. The programs core areas includes making, values, entrepreneurship, leadership and technology.
“Global Peace Foundation has been pushing for inculcating values and character in our secondary schools. We finally have the opportunity of integrating values and impacting the youth with employ-ability skills through harnessing entrepreneurship as a way of creating employment. Young people must be awarded the platform to create jobs, otherwise, if every graduate is looking for jobs, who is creating these jobs?” Mr. Njoroge challenged the audience. “We must to encourage creativity, innovation, analytical and problem solving skills in high school students and the STEM4Peace program initiated by GPF and CEMASTEA definitely will address these concerns” concluded Mr. Njoroge.
The team worked together in developing a concept paper on STEM4Peace programme which will be piloted in 124 public secondary schools (102 STEM schools and 22 Leap Hub schools). The team also developed specific timelines on the completion of the proposal and budget as a support document to the existing concept paper.
As a way forward, GPF Kenya and CEMASTEA will engage more partners to ensure the implementation of more capacity building programs that would benefit teachers and students in schools.