12 African Education Ministers to Meet in Nairobi to Advance STEM Education and Applied Sciences
Education Ministers from 12 African countries are set to convene in Nairobi for discussions on applied science and Stem subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
The two-day conference, scheduled for April 2024, aims to address strategies for bolstering Africa’s capacity to cultivate the manpower required for an industrial economy.
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Chaired by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the meeting will be held under the theme “Leveraging Technical, Vocational and Technical Training (TVET) in the knowledge and skills ecosystem for Africa’s industrialization.”
In attendance will be scientists, development experts, business partners, and scholars from the region.
Hosted by Partnerships for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (Paset), the conference will explore various avenues to support industrial growth through education.
Currently comprising 12 member states including Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and others, Paset focuses on enhancing Stem skills among learners from secondary schools to higher education institutions.
Over the past decade, Paset has facilitated five forums across Africa, serving as platforms for knowledge-sharing and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to bolster technical and scientific capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Additionally, Paset has organized study tours for African governments and institutions to partner countries, promoting knowledge exchange on higher education and skills development.
Details of the upcoming conference were disclosed during a breakfast meeting at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Nairobi, chaired by Machogu and attended by various development partners including the World Bank, USAID, ILO, UNESCO, and UNHCR.
Machogu stressed the critical need to enhance technical and scientific capacity in applied science, engineering, and technology, highlighting their significance in socio-economic transformation.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to nurturing youth skills from an early stage to harness their potential for economic growth.
“This is the right time to accelerate our socio-economic transformation by developing skilled professionals in areas of Stem in our technical institutions.
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This will enable our learners to integrate well in an increasingly innovative and technological workforce,” said Machogu.
12 African Education Ministers to Meet in Nairobi to Advance STEM Education and Applied Sciences