Mobile Laboratories to Address Junior Secondary School Crisis
To tackle the educational crisis faced by Junior Secondary Schools in Embu County and its surroundings, an enterprising investor has taken the initiative to manufacture and sell mobile laboratories that facilitate Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) learning.
Science Lab Limited, the company behind this innovative solution, aims to alleviate the pressure on schools that lack the capacity to construct and equip laboratories, particularly in remote areas.
In addition to mobile labs, the company also produces laboratory equipment, chemicals, and reagents.
Features and Functionality of the Mobile Labs
Leaky Kipkosgey, the sales representative at Science Lab Limited’s Embu branch, revealed that these portable labs come in the form of wooden tables with metallic frameworks.
Each lab is equipped with a 13kg gas cylinder, burners, taps, water taps, a drainage system, and an illumination lamp for lighting.
Priced at Sh45,000 each, these mobile labs can accommodate eight to twelve students at a time and facilitate experiments for subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology.
Flexibility and Affordability
Kipkosgey emphasized the versatility of these “labs without walls,” highlighting their ability to be operated both inside classrooms and in open-air settings.
“This portable laboratory is good as it can be operated inside a classroom or outside in the open air since it does not require a school to build a laboratory structure if it has no capacity,” he said.
With this portable solution, schools no longer need to construct dedicated laboratory structures if they lack the resources to do so.
The affordability and portability of these mobile labs make them an excellent remedy for schools struggling with limited equipment and infrastructure.
Joseph Munyi, a marketer for Science Lab Limited, touted these portable workstations as an alternative for overcrowded schools.
He called on the government to provide funding for schools to procure these mobile labs, thus enabling a more conducive learning environment.
Enhancing STEM Education and Hands-On Skills
Marina Njoki, the Branch Manager, highlighted the suitability of these labs for Junior Secondary and Day Secondary Schools.
Their portability makes them a powerful tool for equipping students with hands-on skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.
“These labs are effective in enriching classroom education and also filling the void in schools where opportunities for laboratory experiments do not exist,” she said.
Mobile Laboratories to Address Junior Secondary School Crisis
