Parents have been urged to invest in their children’s STEM education, especially technology, to keep them abreast technological advancement which will give them an upper hand to grab lucrative opportunities.
Martin Mungai from the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) said this during the weekend after the institution held its 5th installation of the STEM Bootcamp which is meant to teach students from Grade 4 to Form 4 programming fundamentals.
“There is constant scientific discovery and technological change, and every parent must invest in it by allowing children to participate in such events,” he said.
Mungai noted that the training is held during school holidays and all students are allowed to participate and that more bootcamps will be held during the December holiday.
The learners, aged 9 to 18 years, were taken through creative coding (basic coding, makey makey, python, mobile app development), robotics, artificial intelligence, 3d design, graphic design, and mathematics and science innovations.
Joseph Mwangi, one of the trainers, said that the students learnt how to develop mobile applications and they were able to create 8 applications.
Some of the top innovations developed included a phone application that controls lights, checking water levels and smart security alarm systems among others.
CEMESTEA Acting Director Training, Patrick K’Ogolla, noted that the objectives of the bootcamp were to encourage more students to pursue STEM-related programmes at the tertiary level, enhance students’ creativity and innovation, and promote a community of problem solvers and critical thinkers.
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Lucy Mwaniki, a STEM enthusiast, said that the students were very creative and ready to learn despite the challenge of the high cost of materials needed for STEM subjects..
Another trainer, Roseline Magangi Osero, who taught the inner workings of a computer and the basics of programming noted that the students expressed optimism saying that the students exuded confidence and a lot of potential.
By Obegi Malack | obegimalack@gmail.com
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