Garissa: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged students in both junior and senior schools to dream and invent solutions to the world through science and technology innovations. Duale, who spoke during the opening of the 62nd Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF) nationals at the Garissa High School, called on the young participants not to despise their ideas even when they seem small, noting that all notable companies were all started as ideas.
According to Kenya News Agency, Duale emphasized the importance of imagination and curiosity in science, encouraging students to view themselves as current innovators and future leaders. He highlighted that the ideas being developed by students now are the seeds of the future and that the world has been shaped by young thinkers like them.
Furthermore, Duale expressed the government's commitment to creating an environment conducive to innovation, aiming to position Kenya as a regional hub through vision 2030. He noted the role of Competence-Based Education (CBE) in nurturing young Kenyans to innovate and solve real-world problems, aspiring to make the country a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy akin to Silicon Valley.
Elyas Abdi, Director General for the Ministry of Education, mentioned key government interventions to enhance science education, such as constructing science laboratories. Although there is currently lower performance in sciences and mathematics compared to other subjects, Abdi expressed hope for improvement as learners choose their pathways of interest.
Abdi also pointed out that the Competence-Based Education curriculum emphasizes STEM education, with a significant portion of students opting for the STEM pathway. By involving junior schools in KSEF, the aim is to spark interest in STEM fields early in the educational journey.
This year's KSEF marks the first time junior school learners are integrated alongside senior schools, focusing on STEM innovations, including robotics. Students are presenting projects across various scientific domains, including Agriculture, Biological and Environmental Science, Energy and Transportation, Mathematical Science, Physical Science, Social Behavioural Science, Technology, and Engineering.