IBM extends its ICT driven learning push countrywide

Corporate News

Director, Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), Stephen Njoroge, presents a portrait to Nigel Noble, Chief Operating Officer, IBM East Africa during the launch of the up-scaled IBM-CEMASTEA Teachers TryScience programme in Nairobi. PHOTO | STELLAR MURUMBA 

By STELLAR MURUMBA, smurumba@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• IBM East Africa chief operating officer, Nigel Noble said during the launch that the future prosperity of Kenya depends on young people choosing STEM related subjects in order to bridge the job skills gap for todays jobs.

About 3,700 teachers across the country will benefit from training in ICT integration in teaching and learning to boost students' passion in science subjects, starting January.

o infuse the culture of entrepreneurship as students are encouraged to engineer solutions through their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math.

Every county

“We have developed a one week training manual for teachers in leveraging technology during lessons and every county is required to identify between 50 and 100 Sub County trainers teachers for science and art subjects, ICT champions and other stakeholders,” said Stephen Njoroge, CEMASTEA Director.

Many countries in the developing world are unable to compete in innovation globally as their learners do not have access to facilities and training enjoyed by their peers in the developed world.

“About 70 per cent of students who sit for KCSE score Ds in sciences and we want to change that notion in learners as science is the solution for our everyday lives.”

Mr Njoroge was speaking during the launch of the up-scaled IBM-CEMASTEA Teachers TryScience Programme Wednesday, in Nairobi.

“The programme is part of our Sh600m ($60 million) fund for Africa to leverage on technology in sectors such as education and provide tools and resources to spark students’ enthusiasm in the Science subjects. We will be providing hardware and software tools to try and address the work needs and help them prepare for the work place at an early age,” IBM East Africa chief operating officer, Nigel Noble said.