Kenya’s Ministry of Education is pushing to create an enabling environment for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, targeting 60% of senior school learners to pursue STEM pathways. This initiative aligns with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) reforms, which emphasize practical, hands-on learning to prepare students for a technology-driven economy. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, through EASTECO chairman Walter Oyawa, highlighted that the government also projects 25% of learners to pursue humanities and 15% to take creative courses, reflecting a balanced approach to education that caters to diverse student interests and national development needs.
The government is expanding technical and vocational education to strengthen STEM adoption. The number of technical colleges in Kenya has grown from 11 in 2012 to 24, providing practical skills and innovation-driven training for undergraduates. EASTECO noted ongoing efforts to mainstream science and technology innovation across educational institutions, ensuring students gain competencies aligned with industrialization and socio-economic trends. These reforms are complemented by policy recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, which emphasize science and mathematics as critical pillars for national development and competitiveness in the global economy.
Despite progress, gender disparities in STEM participation remain a challenge. UNESCO reports that only 30% of girls in higher education take STEM courses, while 2021 data shows male students dominate universities (59.4%) and TVET institutions (78%). EASTECO chairman Oyawa urged more girls to embrace STEM opportunities to close the gender gap and ensure inclusive growth in Kenya’s knowledge-based economy. By combining curriculum reforms, expanded technical training, and efforts to promote gender equity, Kenya is positioning itself to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation, industrialization, and technological leadership in Africa.