Strengthening the quality of education through Innovation is key in achieving Vision 2030

Written by Daniel Saenyi

 
Freinds School Kamusinga receiving their award for emerging the best boys school after the closure of  49^th National Science congress held in Bungoma high school. 

Western province emerged as the most improved province nationwide in the concluded 49^th National Science congress held in Bungoma high school   with Kamusinga high school being the best in Chemistry exhibits and presentations taking the best boys’ school award.
The best girl school however went to Central Province with Bishop Gatimu Gandu taking the award and SCLP Samaj taking the best mixed school.

The competition was dominated by Oshwal Academy from Nairobi which took six trophies generally and came to be number two in overall school ranking. In the top Five, the only Western school was Friends School Kamusinga which was number four overall following Aga Khan from Mombasa in third place and followed by Jalaram Academy from Nyanza province.

SCLP Samaj emerged the victor of this year’s National Students Congress on Science and Technology.

The top five schools were said to be ones with the most talented innovators and the most relevant ideas to the theme: Science and Technology for Sustainable Development”.

The overall best in chemistry were Riruta Central from Nairobi and Friends school Kamusinga from Western in exhibits and talks respectively. Riruta Central is set to receive Sh 120,000 for emerging the victors.

At provincial level, North Eastern province tailed the competition following Eastern Province with 562 marks. Coast province made it to number six with 573 marks following Nyanza at position five with 672 marks. Rift valley province managed position four with 682 marks behind Central province with 722 marks. The top two were Western with 723 marks immediately behind Nairobi Province which was the ultimate champion.

 

Mr. Esbius Juma Mukhwana (writing) the Managing Director of Sacred Africa Bungoma examining some of the students' exhibition.

Mr. Esbius Juma Mukhwana the Managing Director of Sacred Africa Bungoma revealed that Incorporating theoretical knowledge into practical is a challenge in many Kenyans and a negative aspect in achieving the country’s vision 2030.

Mukhwana noted that, the country needs to establish good policies that will be pointed at actualizing some of the project that are invented by the students as it heads to Vision 2030.

“ We put more emphasis on exams more than we emphasize innovativeness, the country should not waste talent because some may not make it to university but has the potential to develop good strategies so we should create centers that nature the talents of those who don’t make it academically, Said Mr. Mukhwana.

Mukwana was addressing teachers, students after the 49^th National Science congress came to its climax at Bungoma High School on 11^th June with over fifty schools from the entire country showed up to expose their talents in innovation with regard to these years theme Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.

 

Oshwal Academy from Nairobi.

The three day’s event was peaceful with students upholding discipline. The judges did not miss to mention that the process was fair and there was a noted improvement as compared to last year.

According to Steven Mugoba, the Deputy Chief Judge, this year they have the best innovators so far.

As observed in the competitions, the students lack mentors who would give them a direction. Some students could not answer simple questions on their own projects. It was as if they were forced to present someone else’s project or they didn’t carry out enough field experiments.

The entire competition was dominated by low reception on their power point projects and frequent blackouts as its common in Bungoma County. In terms of relevance to the theme, most projects were linked well with the theme, i.e. Automatic Feeder, DVD controlled Irrigation System, Egg Hatcher and Water Purifier.

The Science Congress did not only manage to bring innovation to the public but also enabled the students interact and share ideas for development both personally and academically.

Next year’s Congress will be held in North Eastern at Garissa and will base on the theme, “Science and Technology for the Realisation of Vision 2030".