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Kenya. Action Plan Intel ISEF Educator Academy May 2013. 1. 1. Intel Confidential. Kenya Students Congress on Science & Technology Status. Established in 1962 Run as the Kenya Students Congress on Science & Technology
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Kenya Action Plan Intel ISEFEducator AcademyMay 2013 1 1 Intel Confidential
Kenya Students Congress on Science & Technology Status • Established in 1962 • Run as the Kenya Students Congress on Science & Technology • Under the Ministry of Education, Directorate of Quality Assurances & Standards • National competition runs annually in June of every year • The competition is for secondary schools students only
Subject and Categories • There are 8 subjects as follows: • Agriculture • Biology • Chemistry • Computer Studies • Home Science • Mathematics • Physics • Technical subjects • Each of the above subject is presented either as: • Talk (theory) • Exhibit (practical) • Resulting in a total of 16 categories
Details • Competitions start at school level which then compete in zones • Zonal winners compete at District level • The winners of District level compete at County and then at regional level (8 regions) • The best 3 finalists in every category at the Regional level then compete in the National Finals
Judging & Ethics • At School, district ,county and Regional level the judges are teachers drawn from schools • At National Level, each category is judged by a team of 3 judges drawn from Universities, technical colleges, and Ministry of Education and parastatals & officials • All levels of competitions use a common marking and judging scheme • Judges at all levels are trained by the regional chief judges before the competitions begin • Judges from lower levels (schools, zonal, district county or regionall) are not allowed to judge at the National level • A detailed set of rules, guidelines and ethics are outlined that are followed rigorously
High Level Goals We want to strengthen and encourage STEM Education in the country by creating incentives through a very competitive Science Fair (The Kenya Students’ Congress on Science & Technology) • Demystify STEM subjects • Encourage more student participation in science subjects in schools • Development of research skills amongst students • Improve job creation to align Kenya’s goals of Vision 2030 of becoming the region’s hub of technology • Improve gender parity by encouraging enhanced girls’ participation in Sciences (current ratio of Girls to Boys is 40:60) • Enable Kenyan students to be exposed to International standards
2 Tiered Approach of Goals1st Tier • Short term goals (1 to 3 years) • Restructure the management of KSCS&T • Better recognition nationally • Participation at Intel ISEF • Establish a bank of mentors to assist students • Improve quality of teachers and head teachers workshops • Strengthen sub committees – IRC(and appoint where they are lacking) and regional committees – SRC to review scientific and ethical issues • Selection of final participants to represent the country in ISEF • Review and improve judging • Collaboration with Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) for Patenting of Students Projects • Collaboration with National Council for Science and Technology
2 Tiered Approach of Goals2nd Tier • Long term goals (5 years) • Extend the KSCS&T to primary schools (in 5 years), and tertiary institutions (in 3 years) • Increase the number of students participating in the KSCS&T at grassroots level by 10% every year for 5 years • Collaborate with local universities (job alignment & Research) • Find new ways to increase sponsorship and funding for KSCS&T • Monitoring and Evaluation of students’ work • Research abilities • Improvement in performance in STEM subjects • Increase in STEM subject enrolments • Encourage more participation in KSCS&T by girls
Success Indicators • We would like to see: • 2 new affiliated fairs: Primary & Tertiary institutions • Over 80% secondary schools participating at grassroots levels by 2017 • University as mentors and linking the KSCS&T to Careers • Improvement in KSCS&T awards, scholarships and the finals achieving International standards – invite other African countries to participate • Improved grades in STEM subjects in the National Exams by 40% by 2017 • A full time Executive Director appointed to KSCS&T • Increased publicity of KSCS&T • Participate at the Intel ISEF in 2014 • Mentorship program launched by 2014 • Strengthening of IRCs and SRC by March 2014 • Judging standards to be aligned to Intel ISEF standards by March 2014
Action Plan – Steps to Meet Our Goals and Objectives Please refer to the below Action Plan Tracker. We will be using resources from the Intel Educator Academy Sites wherever possible.
Achievements since may 2012 • -Affiliated to ISEF • Formation of SRC(on temporary basis) • Selected team for 2013 who latter missed visas • Sensitization workshops for officials
Intel ISEF Educator Academy • As a result of our participation in the 2013 Educator Academy • We felt the below were the most important aspects we learnt: • Importance of Science Fairs to increase interest in STEM education • Networking and sharing of experiences with delegates from other countries • Shop Talks that were the most beneficial for your team? • Best usage models of STEM resources l • Fund raising specifics for science fair • Ethical consideration when working with science fair sponsors • International Teams new to Science Fairs • Managing and growing science Fair • What types of Shop Talks were missing? • Judging of exhibits • How to prepare a good presentation