Makueni County Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Chairman Erastus Kimetu (Brigadier) has asked the government to introduce a risk allowance for science teachers.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair at Kathonzweni Boys, Kimetu emphasized that teaching science is inherently risky and time-consuming.
“Handling chemical reagents is not easy for science teachers, and there is a need for better pay and insurance coverage,” he stated.
He also called for increased government funding for school infrastructure, highlighting the challenges in teaching science subjects.
“We are teaching sciences, yet some students in certain schools have never seen an indicator. There is a need to equip schools adequately to ensure effective learning,” he said.
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Kimetu stressed the importance of adapting to modern technological advancements to keep up with global trends.
“In this era of Artificial Intelligence, we cannot continue teaching students about the number of legs a grasshopper has. There is a need to embrace change and integrate advanced technology for the benefit of our learners,” he asserted.
As the science patron at Makueni Boys, Kimetu expressed confidence in the school’s performance, recalling their impressive results from the previous year—ranking second in the Eastern region and 13th nationwide in the science fair competition.
“Our success can be attributed to the unwavering support of our chief principal, the dedication of our teachers—whom we refer to as principal advisors of the projects—and the hard work of our students,” he said.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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