Be fair to all children, says President Uhuru Kenyatta

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday said the Government would ensure all children get equal opportunities.

He cautioned that the boy-child could be marginalised if attention was only given to girls.

“Even as we recognise the girls, let us also look at the boys. If not then they will be forgotten completely,” he said during the launch of a mathematics complex at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (Cemastea).

The Head of State made the remarks after only girls made entertainment presentations at the function he presided over.

“We know that we have to prepare our children to compete in a world that is becoming ever more dependent on science and technology,” he Uhuru.

Cemastea Director Stephen Njoroge said the mathematics complex would upscale training of mathematics and science subjects for teachers in a bid to enhance quality of education.

“We hope to continue building capacity of teachers in mathematics and sciences to enable them pass it on to children,” said Njoroge.

He said the centre has also trained 3,000 teachers who will cascade the ICT integration training to other teachers.

“The only challenge we have is accommodation and we hope the Government will boost our capacity in that area,” he said.

The building, which is a partnership between Kenya and the Government of Japan, was constructed at a cost of some Sh500 million.

Huge investment

“This represents a huge investment in the future of our nation, the Government and our people. Cemastea programmes provide continuous professional development to our mathematics and science teachers in secondary schools and teachers training colleges,” said Uhuru.

The President said that so far, some 60,000 teachers have gone through the programme.

“With the support of Japan International Co-operation Agency, the good practices which were pioneered here have spread to 35 other countries in Africa,” he said.

Present during the function were Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and his two PSs, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Chairman John Awiti, and top officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers.