Nyamira County marked the 10th International day of women and girls in science at St. Clare Gekendo Girls secondary school to challenge and empower women and girls to take up their rightful space in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas in their studies and careers.
Mr. Dickon Ogonya, an education officer from Nyanza region representing the chief guest, Principal Secretary for state department for basic education, Dr. Belio Kipsang’ said that most learners from rural parts of Kenya and urban slums hardly attend school regularly and girls are most affected with irregular school attendance. This situation locks most girls from accessing education and concentrating in studying sciences.
“Several factors like teenage pregnancy, child labour, including outdated cultural practices like child marriages and participating in disco matangas make most girls who are the most vulnerable whose full attendance in school is greatly interfered with and some completely drop out of school,” Mr. Ogonya outlined.
“Believe in your capability because you have equal potential just like your fellow girls and boys so long as you make a personal decision and purpose to study with the right attitude and science subjects will just be as easy as humanities,” the officer advised.
Eastern Africa regional Director UNESCO representative, Louise Haxthausen who was one of the guests in her speech stated that Women’s access to scientific careers starts from the first years of schools and girls therefore must be encouraged to explore the countless career opportunities that science provides to be empowered and shape a better future for all.
“Our girls need role models, who will mentor and challenge them to take up sciences in order to break barriers which hinder women and girls from realizing their full potential in sciences. Fewer scientists means fewer scientific innovations, fewer medical discoveries and less sustainable development. At a time of pressing global challenges from climate disruption and health crises to rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the world needs more science and science needs more women,” Louise advised.
UNESCO’s regional director challenged girls and women to brave the systemic barriers such as limited funding, fewer publishing opportunities and a lack of representation in senior positions to be able to stamp their presence and potential to increase the global percentage of women in the scientific community.
Ms. Pamela Orori, the principal for St. Clare Gekendo girls thanked the ministry of education and UNESCO for bringing the challenge right in her school which is in a rural setting so that girls can be mentored and know that the future in sciences in bright and they therefore must target to seize the underutilized opportunity in sciences.
Dr. Mercy Motanya, the chief officer for sports gender culture and social services in Nyamira County confirmed that Nyamira County government is issuing full scholarships and bursaries and girls get 51% of total scholarship issued by Governor Nyaribo and urged them to work hard in sciences because the career opportunities in STEM have not been exhausted.
The international day of women and Girls in sciences was proclaimed by the United Nations General assembly in 2015 with the aim of building a world in which gender equality in the science world would no longer be a goal but a reality. This year’s theme was; Unpacking STEM careers: her voice in science.’ Whose national commemoration was held at St. Clare Gekendo Girls Secondary school in Nyamira County.
By Deborah Bochere