Science Centre Kenya: Developing Equality of STEM Education for Kenyas Youth
Young people account for a disproportionately large percentage of the population in Kenya and therefore represent an important and dynamic force in Kenyan society.Of 47 million Kenyans, 50% are under 18 years old.One proven solution for positive development is to invest in education that builds the capacity of youth.The main objective of the current work is to support the development of youth from all backgrounds in Kenya by establishing the countrys first science centre.Science Centre Kenya (SCK) is a pilot science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)centre that promotes equal educational opportunity for all youth to become inspired by the STEM (Monjero, et al., 2013).This paper describes the methods that have been used to plan and develop SCK, taking advantage of models that have worked for science centres elsewhere while acknowledging specific needs that distinguish SCK from science centres in most other countries.A SCK planning team conducted a survey to investigate the publics understanding of the science centre concept during the 3rd National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week, held 19-23 May 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya.70% of the 56 respondents had never heard of science centres, and of the remaining 30% who had heard of science centres, none had actually visited one.After visiting the exhibitions and programs during the event, all but one person (98%)reported having learned at least one new science concept;60% responded that county and national governments should fund science centres in the future;and all (100%)supported the idea of building a science centre for Kenya.The study found that the majority of Kenyans polled felt they had been left out of science matters and most were unaware of the science that is present around them every day.This study provided the case for starting the first science centre in Kenya as a program of the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Organization (KALRO) in Nairobi.The vision of Science Centre Kenya is:A brighter future for Kenyas youth through STEM with the ongoing mission: To promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics through interactive science experiences that engage, challenge, and inspire exploration and understanding of the world around us. Experience during the past four years has shown dramatic growth of attendance at the pilot facility and a critical need for additional resources that will enable Science Centre Kenya to provide the exhibitions, programs, space, and visitor amenities necessary to adequately serve the observed public demand.
Kenya science centre development equal opportunity in education public participation capacity building
Kenneth Monjero Charlie Trautmann Graham Walker
Science Centre Kenya
国际会议
北京
英文
53-62
2017-11-27（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）