Promoting science in Kenyan schools
Research institutes, with their community of health and research professionals, hold a largely untapped potential to enrich school science, demystify health research in the communities in which they work, and encourage future generations of scientists and health workers.
The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust programme in Kilifi, Kenya is internationally renowned for its contribution to global health research. Despite this, knowledge of science and research in Kilifi district itself is limited, in part due to poor access to educational and health resources.
In September 2008 the Kilifi team piloted a schools engagement programme in collaboration with the District Education Office, head teachers and science teachers of three secondary schools in Kilifi. The pilot aimed to determine the best approaches for engagement between the research centre and schools, and to see if the activities would affect attitudes toward science education, research at the centre, activities and health research in general in the target schools.
The activities included visits to the research facilities by students and teachers, visits to schools by scientists and health workers, a competition where students presented songs, dramas and presentations about health research and science topics, and the production of a virtual tour film of KEMRI-WTP centre by students and staff. The schools were also provided schools with science teaching aids, including textbooks, a subscription to 'Scientific American', a laptop computer and a projector.
After the pilot, both students and teachers expressed a better understanding of KEMRI-WTP activities and of health research in general. Students found that seeing science being applied in day-to-day life increased their understanding and enjoyment of the subject, while teachers reported that learning about potential careers in research motivated the students to work harder in science, to respond to questions more confidently and to achieve better test grades.
The value of young local scientists as role models for students, and in motivating the students to believe that despite difficult circumstances it is possible to succeed in pursuing science-related, careers was highlighted.
The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust team are now planning to scale up the programme to all schools in the district over the next five years, and subsequently beyond the Kilifi district.
International Engagement Award: 'Promoting science in Kenyan schools', 2008
