- Thousands of Junior School teachers trained in virtual laboratories must complete a school-based induction requirement.
- CEMASTEA says affected teachers will receive certificates after cascading the skills to colleagues in their schools.
- The September 15 deadline requires teachers to induct at least three STEM colleagues and submit attendance records.
The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) has directed Junior School teachers who underwent training on the use of virtual laboratories to complete a school-based induction exercise before they can receive their certificates.
In a circular dated September 1, 2026, CEMASTEA said 7,000 Junior School Mathematics and Integrated Science teachers were trained on the use of virtual laboratories between June 24 and 26, 2026.
The training was aimed at equipping teachers with skills to use virtual laboratories developed by CEMASTEA for Mathematics and Integrated Science at Junior School level.
However, CEMASTEA said a sizeable number of the trained teachers had not completed one of the key requirements for certification — cascading the training to their colleagues at school level.
Teachers must induct at least three colleagues
Under the requirement, each teacher who attended the training must induct at least three other STEM teachers in their respective schools on the use of virtual laboratories.
CEMASTEA has now directed the affected teachers, through their school heads, to complete the induction exercise by September 15, 2026.
The teachers are also required to submit a scanned copy of the attendance register for colleagues inducted at school level to CEMASTEA through training@cemastea.ac.ke by the same deadline.
The prescribed attendance register template has been provided by CEMASTEA for use during the exercise.
Virtual labs target practical STEM learning
The nationwide programme followed the training of 240 Junior School county trainers drawn from the country’s 47 counties.
The county trainers underwent a three-day programme at CEMASTEA in Karen, Nairobi, before cascading the training to Junior School Mathematics and Integrated Science teachers.
The virtual laboratories are intended to support practical STEM learning, particularly in schools that do not have adequate physical laboratory facilities.
CEMASTEA has said the digital simulations are designed to enable teachers to conduct practical lessons and help learners interact with scientific concepts even where physical laboratory equipment is limited.
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The initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen practical and technology-supported teaching under Competency-Based Education.
By Kithinji Njeru
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