Don't just focus on STEM, content production is the real goldmine

A group of artists rehearse in a makeshift theatre at Lake View Estate in Nakuru, keeping the spirit of performance alive.[Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

For the past year, I have been deeply involved in the development of Competency-Based Education (CBE) materials for a new learning area: Theatre and Film Studies. This is to be taught in senior schools in Kenya. The experience has been eye-opening. It has forced me to think deeply about the opportunities that lie ahead for our young people and the transformative potential this subject carries for the nation.

The world offers powerful lessons on the economic strength of creative industries. California is a striking example. Powered by Hollywood and a vibrant creative sector, its economy is so vast that it surpasses the entire African continent in size. India, through Bollywood, has built a cultural powerhouse that makes a substantial contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nigeria, too, has transformed Nollywood into a global brand, with the industry now accounting for a notable share of that country’s economic output.