The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) held a virtual ceremony to recognise and award outstanding teachers and trainers in the country.
Eight top teachers and trainers from the eight regions each earned a lap-top, a trophy and a certificate of excellence. 3 teachers and three best trainers nationally had their prizes accompanied with cash with the 2nd runners up pocketing Ksh50,000. The 1st runners up were awarded Ksh75,000 and the overall two winners Ksh100,000 each.
CEMASTEA has trained more than 11,000 mathematics and science Kenyan teachers online since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic in March that saw face to face learning suspended for over 7 months.
Kenyans embraced the new norm online In-service Education and Training (INSET) utilising Google Classroom system. With over 1,163 County Trainers in all the 47 counties, teachers have acquires more skills in online learning.
The exercise has ensured continued quality training and learning as schools remain closed since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. Speaking during the ceremony, CEMASTEA Director Jacinta Akatsa said the awards including trophies, certificates, laptops and cash were intended to motivate and inspire the teachers.
She praised e-Kitabu, a premier local e-book store that circulates books and interactive contents for partnering with CEMASTEA for the initiative.
“Besides the awards, it was by dint of collaboration between e-Kitabu and CEMASTEA that an online competition was conceived and introduced to enable teachers to develop and deliver content online to learners using a suitable learning management system. The competition started at the County level and proceeded to the regional and national levels,” stated Akatsa
Representing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Director of Quality Assurance Dr Reuben Nthamburi said teachers required lots of emotional support to efficiently administer remote teaching.
“It calls for professional flexibility, patience, personal strength and endurance to deliver in unpredictable circumstances where technology such as the internet can suddenly fail midstream. Teaching remotely is truly challenging and only the best and dedicated can excel,” said Dr Nthamburi.
Nthamburi applauded CEMASTEA and e-Kitabu for organising the event, adding that remote learning was the way to go for the future where other pandemics and disruptions were likely.
“We in the TSC take proud cognizance of the fact that CEMASTEA has gone fully digital to fit into the dynamics of the prevailing atmosphere. That is innovation and a move in the right direction to cope with uncertain times,” he said.
