This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
On December 23, 2019, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results were released, revealing a concerning trend in the country's education system.
The number of candidates who scored 400 marks in the 2019 KCPE examination dropped by 15.4 per cent from the previous year, with poor performance in science and mathematics being a major contributing factor.
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it is essential that Kenya's education system prioritizes the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) subjects from an early age.
According to the World Economic Forum's 'Future of Job' annual study, technological advances such as artificial intelligence, Big Data analytics, and cloud technology are driving business growth, and companies are likely to invest heavily in machine learning and augmented and virtual reality.
However, Kenya faces significant challenges in the field of Stem, including poor performance, low enrolment, and gender disparity at all levels of education.
Research has identified several factors contributing to the decline in Stem education, including poverty, inadequate funding, and a lack of interest from students.
Despite these challenges, there are initiatives underway to promote Stem education in Kenya. For example, Interswitch, an Africa-focused integrated digital payments and commerce company, has partnered with the Ministry of Education and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to launch a Stem competition targeting high school students.
The competition, InterswitchSPAK, aims to promote the adoption and appreciation of Stem in secondary schools and their contribution to national development goals, including the Kenya Vision 2030.
