Kenya’s Future is Digital: Teachers Master AI for Next-Gen STEM Education

Kenya’s education system is undergoing a massive digital overhaul to align with the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum. The Ministry of Education, through the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), is leading this charge by integrating intensive Information Communication and Technology (ICT) training for educators.

A specialized capacity-building workshop is currently underway for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Heads of Departments from senior schools. The goal is to equip these leaders with critical future-ready skills, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced digital literacy.

Transforming the Classroom: AI for Lesson Delivery

The training focuses heavily on practical application, moving beyond basic computing to specialized digital tools. According to Thuo Karanja, the Kakamega coordinator, teachers are learning to leverage online platforms for:

• Seamless Lesson Planning and Delivery: Utilizing digital tools to create dynamic and engaging classroom sessions.
• Administrative Efficiency: Preparing schemes of work electronically.
• Resource Sourcing: Accessing a vast array of digital resources such as e-books, videos, and interactive learning experiences.

The masterclass specifically addresses AI and other emerging technologies, providing senior secondary teachers with specialized skills to develop and source digital learning materials.

Strategic Capacity Building for the 2026 Transition

This nationwide initiative is strategically timed to support the Ministry of Education’s digital policy goals ahead of the crucial transition of Grade 9 learners to senior secondary schools in January 2026.

CEMASTEA CEO, Jacinta Akatsa, emphasized that her organization is dedicated to enhancing STEM education across the sector through investigated research and continuous capacity building for curriculum implementers.

The training, themed “Enhancing the capacity of STEM heads of departments to manage transition in Competency-Based Education (CBE),” is being held concurrently in Kakamega, Nakuru, and Nairobi Counties, bringing crucial digital skills to 432 senior science teachers who will drive this digital transformation at the grassroots level.