Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers teaching Mathematics and Integrated Science will undergo a four-day training during the first-term half-term break focusing on virtual laboratories and digital learning tools.
The training is organized by Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA)and will run from February 26 to March 1, 2025. Schools will break for half-term on February 26 and resume on March 2, 2025.
Training Focus and Scope
8,563 JSS STEM teachers will be trained to enhance STEM education in Grade 7, 8, and 9 using virtual labs and open educational digital resources. This is under the Secondary Education Equity and Quality Improvements Project (SEEQIP) which aims to provide modern teaching tools for effective and engaging classroom instruction.
The training will be held at SMASE INSET Centres in all 47 counties.
Objectives of the Training
By the end of the training, JSS teachers should be able to:
- Use virtual laboratories effectively for teaching and learning.
- Integrate digital resources into STEM lesson planning and delivery.
- Enhance classroom engagement through interactive and technology driven learning.
- Support JSS learners in transitioning to STEM pathway in senior school.
Participation and Logistics
CEMASTEA has directed the County Teacher Capacity Development Committees (CTCDC) to:
- Invite Mathematics and Integrated Science teachers who have previously attended SMASE INSET trainingas a prerequisite.
- Invite JSS County Trainers who received training on virtual labs in December 2024 to an online induction session on February 24, 2025, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Inform private schools that their teachers can participate by paying Ksh 880 per day for four days for meals and stationery.
A Step Towards Future-Ready STEM Education
This training will fill the resource gap in JSS STEM education by providing teachers with the skills and resources to incorporate technology in science and maths teaching.
60% of JSS learners will transition to STEM in senior school so this will be key in preparing them for science and tech careers in future.