Teachers who were trained on STEM education commit to share acquired skills

By Elias Hakizimana.

At least 30 Science and Technology teachers from 30 schools in 30 districts across Rwanda who gained skills in STEM education and; they pledged to share the skills to other teachers at their respective schools.

The four-day training that was organized by Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU) in partnership with UNESCO Regional, Ministry of Education ” MINEDUC ”with the support of Bulgaria aimed at increasing girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and it took place in Kigali at Creativity Lab from December 20 to 23, 2021.

The training targeted high school and vocational and technical schools “TVET” in level of knowledge enhancement in the teaching of modern science and technology courses “STEM”.

Following the training, teachers from all parts of the country who teach Science and Technology decided to step up their efforts to teach Science and Technology courses and to share the knowledge gained with others.

Pacifique Dukunde, one of the trainees who teaches Mathematics and Science at GS Muhura-Taba in Gatsibo District, said the training was a great help to them and they raised a huge barrier to improving their education through technology.

She went on saying that the use of technology will enable students to put theory into practice.

Joseph Ndahimana, a teacher at Petit Seminary Virgo Fidelis Karubanda, said that after the training, they will continue to encourage children to use technology in all their subjects.

“At our school we encouraged children to innovate where we have now formed an innovation team through science and technology classes where they have built a waste collecting machine,” he said.

Ir. Dominique Mvunabandi, Director of Science and Technology Unity in Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU) said the training was organized to remind teachers of the role of Science and Technology in sustainable development in the World and in Rwanda.

Mvunabandi says that teachers were provided with tutorials that will help them gain skills by teaching science and technology courses.

He added that the skills gained by these teachers will be shared with others so that in the next two years they will have a large number of teachers with higher education in teaching in Science and Technology courses.

Dr. Marie Christine Gasingirwa, the Applied Sciences Analyst at Higher Education Council (HEC) and Chairperson of General Assembly at CNRU said that in teaching, the necessary skills should be up to date.

She urged trained teachers from all over the country to go and share the skills to their peers, adding that the commission will have a time to evaluate how teachers are implementing the initiative.

In Rwanda, the number of girls attending science and technology courses is still lower than that of boys.

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