New bid to promote science in schools

Shannon Auma (right) and Lydia Wanjiru of Pangani Girls High School explain how a solar-powered brooder works during the launch of Young Scientist Kenya.

The Government has launched a competition for young scientists in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland and Safaricom platform, Blaze.

The Young Scientist Kenya (YSK) is a unique platform for young people across the country to demonstrate their scientific talents. It is based on the British Telecom Young Scientist and Technologist Exhibitions of Ireland founded in the 1960s by Dr Tony Scott and Fr Tom Burke.

Blaze will offer YSK support to mobilise and enrol students for the pilot phase to be held in 10 counties over the next one year before it is rolled out as a national programme.

This will be in line with Blaze's goal of empowering youths; it already has mentoring and boot camp programmes across the country.

“This platform will help us achieve Blaze’s drive to inspire youths to follow their passions and also change the perception among them that science, technology, engineering and math are tough. It goes right with our theme of toughness and 'GRIT' (greatness requires internal toughness),” said Safaricom Head of Segments Charles Kare.

The Ministry of Education has for the last 53 years co-ordinated the Secondary Schools Science Congress, now known as the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair, as the only science co-curricular activity for Kenyan schools.