Education PS Prof. Julius Kibet Bitok Opens National STEM Workshop, Urges Teachers to Drive Innovation

I am delighted to be here this afternoon. Allow me to welcome you all to CEMASTEA, the home of STEM education in Kenya. This is where Kenya’s transformation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics begins.

I want to thank all of you, the teachers, facilitators, and officials gathered here. You represent the real strength of our education system. Today’s engagement is not just another training workshop; it is a match point for Kenya’s new education era.

Today, as our nation begins its national examinations, we are witnessing history. For the first time, Grade 9 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum are sitting for their national assessment. This is a significant step, marking the transition from Junior School to Senior School.

Our plan as the Ministry of Education is to ensure every school in Kenya can deliver STEM effectively. We want science and innovation to be the foundation of all learning.

If you look at the global landscape, no nation has developed without investing in STEM. Countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and even the Asian Tigers became industrial powers because they prioritized innovation and scientific discovery.

Kenya’s path to becoming an industrialized country depends on how well we get STEM right.

Many of our learners fear mathematics and science. We have a challenge in how we nurture curiosity and interest in these subjects.

I once had a student who answered every single question in a mathematics paper correctly. All thirty. Today, he is a medical doctor. He succeeded because he loved mathematics. He enjoyed solving problems and discovering solutions.

Mathematics should be exciting. It is logical, precise, and the language of innovation. Let us make it a subject learners look forward to, not avoid.

CBC is not about passing exams. It is about competence, invention, and the ability to apply knowledge to life.

We are not just producing exam-takers; we are creating thinkers and innovators.

Education must prepare learners for life. It must focus on what matters - - building skills, discipline, and creativity.

Artificial Intelligence is already transforming classrooms, and teachers must embrace it with open minds.

Preparing a lesson used to take three days. Today, thanks to AI, it can take ten minutes. AI can help generate lesson plans, guide research, and create schemes of work automatically.

AI is not replacing teachers; it is empowering them. Technology is now our greatest ally in delivering meaningful education.

The government remains fully committed to education reforms. For the first time in Kenya’s history, education receives nearly 20 percent of the national budget.

These investments show our focus on giving teachers and learners the tools they need. Without education, our national development vision cannot be achieved.

I want each of you to take time to reflect. What are you doing in your classroom that changes lives? What legacy will you leave behind?

Let us go back and be the change in our schools. The country’s future depends on what happens in your classroom.

When learners succeed, it is because teachers went the extra mile to inspire them.

As I conclude, I want to challenge you. Take this opportunity not just to learn, but to lead. Use what you gain here to transform your teaching experience. Ask yourself how to convert STEM into something every learner can connect with and enjoy.

Be the bridge between innovation and education. Inspire curiosity, creativity, and courage in your students.

The government has done its part by providing resources. Now the responsibility rests with you to deliver transformation.

It gives me great pleasure to officially declare this four-day National STEM Capacity-Building Workshop open.

Let us build a legacy of creativity, innovation, and excellence that will shape the future of this nation.