Boot camps can help High School STEM Students to be the champions of New Technologies

Elias Hakizimana Mar 6, 2022 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

High School Students who learn Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) affirm that the boot camps in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Coding, Solid Modelling, 3D printing and Micro-science can help them find solutions of the problems associated with the fourth Industrial Revolution.

These students who gained four-day training in Kigali at FAWE Girls School this week from March 1-4^th, 2022 thank Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU) and the Government of Rwanda to think on supporting STEM Education, pledging good use of acquired knowledge.

“We were taught about some values that we, scientist must have like being confident. As scientists, we do have to work, to create and also, we have to be able to express and explain our creations, and I am sure that hundred percent of us are able to do that, and; this is because of this boot camp. I humbly request that concerned authorities can arrange such boot camps during the weekends to strengthen students’ practices in STEM education and express the sciences they study in theories into practices.” Said Kellya Sylvia Ukundwanawe, a student from FAWE Girls School.

**Students demonstrating how the technologies work.**

“Not only that, but we also request that these boot camps can give trainings to the young science students make their own things and it will work as a kind of motivation to scientists and; it will contribute to the development of our country and Africa as our continent.” She added.

Charles Innocent Mugabe, another Senior Five student who learns Mathematics, Physics and Geography (MPG) at Lycée de Kigali also reiterated that the boot camps leave a significant skills package that will help them to be innovative and creative in the future.

“We got practices of how we can make a moving robot that can do what you tell it to do. The boot camp opened our mind and our thinking has been enhanced because making a robot takes a long in thinking and re-thinking.” Mugabe said.

**Charles Innocent Mugabe, a student from Lycée de Kigali appreciates the lessons on Robotics.**

Ir. Dominique Mvunabandi, Director of Science and Technology Unity in Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU) said that this training was in line with STEM education development that matches with the fourth industrial revolution.

“We want to have a number of trained teachers who will help us to train other teachers in Kigali and countrywide. They will teach students to be able to demonstrate practical knowledge of what they learn in theories, linking them with current global technology development.” Mvunabandi said.

Embarking on the STEM boot camp theme: “Re-imagining and re-thinking STEM education in the fourth industrial revolution”, Mvunabandi said that all the countries across the world are sharing knowledge in Science and Technology so that none of them is left behind.

**Ir. Dominique Mvunabandi, Director of Science and Technology Unity in Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU) during an interview withy the media.**

“Countries need to have updates on new technologies of innovation in various sectors including Education. It is the reason why this theme requires teachers, students and education partners to know what really the fourth industrial revolution is for them to revisit teaching and learning framework, especially STEM in schools.” He added.

Some of the challenges to attain the objectives of STEM education are shortage of materials inn schools.

Ir. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) said that the Government of Rwanda is injecting efforts in availing efficient equipment that meet the needs of STEM education.

From prototypes to market products

Umukunzi said that the next step is to help students produce marketable products from the prototypes they make at school.

**Ir. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) said that the Government of Rwanda is injecting efforts in availing efficient equipment that meet the needs of STEM education.**

“We are thinking on how to make the products for markets from the prototypes students are making today. The government is going to establish a special fund to support such innovation projects and enable producers to even sell at international markets.” He said.

The boot camp equipped teachers and students with necessary knowledge to innovate and to create things by thinking beyond the theories. As it benefited 130 students and 20 teachers from 20 schools in Kigali, every school has at least five trained students and one teacher.

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