Science learning is expected to raise the students’ understanding of global challenges such as climate change, water, energy, health, limited resources, and equip them with solutions to address these challenges, the secretary/CEO of Kenya's National Council of Science and Technology Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak has said.
Prof Abdulrazak said the theme for this years' secondary schools science congress "science and technology for sustainable development" was very relevant not only in shaping the youths’ thinking in the direction of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I), but also in capturing the country's long-term development strategy as envisaged in the vision 2030.
“Realization of the vision 2030 will require a critical mass of various cadres of engineers, doctors, pharmacists, statisticians, chemists, biologists, physicists and a whole lot of ICT experts with good grounding in sciences,” he said, adding that this calls for a change in the approach to education by integrating the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into the system.
“Education reforms has been at centre stage among headteachers conferences in secondary schools in the recent past and Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the envisioned reforms,” he said.
The NCST CEO who was speaking during this year 49th Secondary Schools Science Congress at Bungoma High School explains that it is very important to inculcate a culture of innovation and thinking among our youth from the youngest ages as possible, right from primary school.
“This can be done through role modeling and mentorship; review curricular to incorporate enabling skills, interactive learning in science, review curricular to articulate STI needs; benchmarking at all levels of the education system to standardize best practices in the education sector,” the former Egerton University Deputy Vice Chancellor said.
He said other strategies that the government has continued to lay emphasis on include creation of centres of excellence in STI to address challenges associated with STI capacity; modernize STI equipment and building science laboratories together with provision of other science materials and equipment to improve the teaching of science related subjects; encourage individual creativity and broadening opportunities and support for students to pursue ST&I studies through bursaries and scholarships.
“Its equally important to nurture talent in science and technology; forums such as science congresses offer opportunities for future development in science technology and innovation which can lead to great innovations being translated into products, processes and services that the country requires for economic recovery,” Prof Abdulrazak told Ministry of Education officials, teachers and students from all parts of the country among others who has gathered for three days in Western Kenya.
He espoused that there is an urgent need to upscale the projects and innovations that were being displayed for ST&I to contribute to national development. “We need to take stock of what has been done since inception of the science congress to avoid duplication and forge ways and strategies to enhance its impact to the society.”
The Ministry of Education through NCST is looking into the modalities of organizing regional science congress which will see the participation of schools in the East African block. “A concept paper on the same is being developed.”
He emphasized that Kenyan youth have great potential that remains untapped, currently, the youth account for about 60 percent of the active labor force but the majority estimated at 75 percent or 3 million people are still unemployed, according to the Kenya National Human Development Report 2009, with 800,000 young people entering the job market every year, the issue of how to generate jobs remains a challenge.
“Schools and colleges need to release graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers to address the menace of youth unemployment,” the NCST CEO said, adding that “upscaling of projects and innovations from forums such as these would help students be their won employers.”
On grants he pointed out that one of NCST key functions is to administer the Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) grant on behalf of the Government of Kenya.
“This grant is one of the government efforts towards building capacity in Science, Technology and Innovation. This is a competitive grant that supports researchers, innovators, research facility and support of conferences,” he told the young science who where show casing their innovations. “To date the ST&I grant has supported a total of 318 research and innovation projects in different categories.”
This year NCST advertised for research proposals whose theme will focus on engineering disciplines and renewable energy. Last year's call was for innovations and the previous for post-doctorate research grant towards promotion of STI in the country.
“NCST also holds annual conferences on dissemination of results and exhibition of innovations,” he said.
This year, the conference drew over 600 participants from Kenya and various countries, 42 innovators, several research institutions and universities.
In future, Prof Abdulrazak envisions an integrated science congress where science congress in secondary schools, universities and middle level colleges will blend with NCST conference to create a “Science Week in Kenya” feel.
This will scale the sharing and developing of Science, Technology and Innovations to move “ahead as a country that promotes and utilizes knowledge from Science, Technology and Innovation,” said.
No comments:
Post a Comment