Calls for increased funding to retool and retain Grade 10 teachers

Learning materials during the Numeracy Stakeholders Forum hosted by CEMASTEA and Zizi Afrique, Karen, Nairobi. February 05, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) wants more funds to retool and retrain teachers for the Grade 10 syllabus.

Deputy Coordinator for Science Technology, Engineering Mathematics (STEM) under CEMASTEA, Martin Mungai, said that for the success of the Curriculum-Based Competency (CBC) syllabus, teachers need to be well-equipped.

Speaking during a weeklong Lamu County Principals' workshop, Mungai said there is a need for equipment and more facilities, such as laboratories, for the successful transition and adoption of STEM subjects under the CBC syllabus.

"There is a need for teachers, especially in junior secondary schools, to be retrained for the STEM subjects to be fully adopted under the CBC programme as it is," said Mungai.

He also asked that teachers be open and positive towards the CBC programme as it continues to roll out.

Lamu Department of Education Deputy Director, Shumi Mohammed, said teachers need insights on how CBC is supposed to be taught and adopted.

Mohammed said that a lot of sensitization is underway to ensure the success of the new syllabus programme in Lamu.

"Such workshops provide teachers with the insight as to how CBC is supposed to be taught and adopted, and also foster a collaborative effort between teachers, parents and school administrators.

Mohammed said that if the teachers become more positive towards the CBC programme especially when teaching of STEM, students are more likely to succeed due to the nature of CBC being more student oriented rather than tutor instructive as the 8-4-4 module has been.