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CEMASTEA Implements Teacher Professional Development program on Gender - Responsive STEM Education for educators from Francophone African countries

CEMASTEA Implements Teacher Professional Development program on Gender - Responsive STEM Education for educators from Francophone African countries

Published in CEMASTEA News Written by  October 19 2018 font size decrease font size increase font size
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Written by: Dan Orero & Mary Sichangi

Photos by: Dan Orero

The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education - Kenya hosted and implemented a two week training on Gender-Responsive STEM Education for nine (9) educators from Francophone African Countries. The program was implemented under the auspices of the continental secretariats hosted by the centre namely; ADEA’s Inter-Country Quality Node on Mathematics and Science Education (ICQN-MSE) and the Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education in Africa (SMASE Africa).

The course was tailored for Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) aimed at building capacity of key educators drawn from four French-speaking African countries to be the driving force in the implementation of Teacher Professional Development (TPD) on Quality gender-responsive STEM education. The TOTs were drawn from Burkina Faso (2), Niger (1), Senegal (6) and Mali (1) and were expected to cascade the same course to 80 educators drawn from twelve countries scheduled for Dakar-Senegal later in the year.

CEMASTEA in partnership with UNESCO-EA, UNESCO-Paris, UNESCO-IICBA, FAWE, Microsoft-EA, IFEF, AUC-CIEFA, MoE-Kenya, SMASE Africa, IIE, ADEA-ICQN-MSE and Japanese delegation to UNESCO-Paris organized the Regional Training for Francophone Africa that was a success to its completion.

The training gave an opportunity to the participating educators, policy makers and key stakeholders in education sector in Francophone countries of Africa to exchange ideas on key knowledge, skills, models and strategies to encourage more girls participation in STEM education as well as to inspire and motivate them to undertake careers in STEM related careers.

  

Participants during a session performing different hands on activities

The training focused on discussing the factors that influence gender parity in learning achievement and retention in STEM studies; strengthen the capacity of Ministry of Education officers to undertake deliberate actions to create gender-responsive STEM educational environments that engage, empower and inspire girls and boys to create a support network among Francophone African countries to share good practices, knowledge and intensify efforts to engage in the areas aforementioned.

   

Participants during a school visit to Buru Buru Girls’

Participants during the school visit at Buru Buru Girls’ to experience what it means to practice gender-responsive STEM Education, know the indicators of a gender-responsive school/learning environment and how the school encourages the participation of girls’ in STEM.

Mr. Stephen M. Njoroge, Director CEMASTEA speaking to the participants on Transformative Institutional Leadership that supports gender-responsive STEM education, reiterated that leadership is the vision that bridges the present and the future. It has to be strategic, inclusive, and inspiring. He also affirmed that spending more time in assessing than learning inhibits progress.

Mr. Njoroge, taking the participants through a session on Transformative Institutional Leadership for gender-responsive STEM education

In line with the discussion on transformative institutional leadership for gender-responsive STEM education, Mrs. Sichangi, Coordinator - Partnership, Linkages & International Training - CEMASTEA focused on the lens of leadership emphasizing the need for deliberate efforts to achieve good practice and progress.

Mrs. Sichangi, taking participants through a session on Transformative Institutional Leadership for gender-responsive STEM education

Character and moral maturity are key in achieving STEM education. While it is important to have a sense of character, creativity is also important for transformation to take place”. Dr. Tony Devine; the International Vice President, Education Division Global Peace Foundation said during the session on “Enhancing STEM education through character development”.

Dr. Tony Devine; during a session on “Enhancing STEM education through character development”.

Mr. Njoroge, Director CEMASTEA while speaking during the closing ceremony of the Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa thanked the participants for successfully completing the two-week training with great dedication. He emphasized that development of mathematics and science education begins with developing teachers’ capacity. He further said that teachers hold the key to quality STEM education in Africa.

Mr. Njoroge, speaking during the closing ceremony of the Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa

The chief guest Mr. Gichuhi Ndegwa - Senior Assistant Director of Education, Ministry of Education who represented the PS, State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Kenya while speaking during the closing ceremony of the Regional Training for Francophone Africa lauded CEMASTEA for the good work they are doing in building the capacity of teachers and assured the Ministry’s support. He compared the teachers to the candle that consumes itself to light. He further emphasized on the need to work as a team. “We are one irrespective of the race, language, religious background, gender or nationality”, he said.

Mr. Gichuhi Ndegwa, during the closing ceremony of Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa

Ms. Martha Muhwezi, Ag. Executive Director, FAWE, a facilitator and guest during the closing ceremony encouraged the participants to practice gender responsiveness and motivate more girls’ towards STEM subjects and fields.

Ms. Martha Muhwezi speaking to the participants during the Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa

Ms. Justine Sass - Chief of Section, Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality UNESCO Headquarters, Paris speaking to the participants during the Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa

Participants were awarded certificates after successful completion of the two week Regional Training for educators from Francophone countries of Africa at CEMASTEA.

  

Participants receiving the certificates awarded during the closing ceremony of the two week training at CEMASTEA

 

 

 

Read 3135 times Last modified on Last modified on October 19 2018

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