Kenya moves to introduce nuclear science in secondary schools

The African dream to rope in more women and youth in nuclear science and technology studies is slowly gaining traction as Kenya explores ways of introducing nuclear science and technology to secondary school learners as the country continues to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

Speaking during a regional meeting that brought together 10 countries in Nairobi, Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak said Kenya should use the curriculum review process to ensure learners are exposed to nuclear science and technology before they reach university.

“Especially now in this country that we are looking at reviews of various education issues, we want to make sure that we align this,” Prof. Abdulrazak said.

The PS said nuclear science is already being applied in areas with direct relevance to Kenya’s development priorities, including healthcare, agriculture, water resources and industry, adding that nuclear technology can contribute to even greater development, including food security, at a time when drought is biting hard across Kenya.

“This is an area that we are able to use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, for example, looking at and understanding the groundwater by looking at isotope hydrology,” he said.

The push to introduce nuclear science at an earlier stage is also being driven by the need to develop a sufficient pool of professionals as African countries increasingly consider nuclear technologies, including nuclear power programmes.

Prof. Abdulrazak said Kenya cannot wait until university level to begin developing interest in nuclear careers.

“We must be able to entice the younger generation to go into these subjects,” he added.

Amal Elrefaei, from the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation, commended Africa’s efforts to embrace nuclear education at an early stage, saying it was critical to prepare young people for the continent’s growing demand for scientific and technical expertise.

“Through this project, the agency is supporting member states in Africa to strengthen nuclear science and technology education at secondary school level, and to raise awareness of their peaceful applications of nuclear science,” Elrefaei said.

The project places particular emphasis on increasing the participation of women and youth, with the IAEA saying that early engagement could help create clearer pathways for girls and young women to pursue careers in nuclear science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Elrefaei said the initiative would bring together students, teachers, education institutions, scientific organisations and professional networks to broaden participation and address misconceptions about nuclear science.

“By engaging students, teachers, education institutions, scientific organizations, and professional networks, we can help broaden participation, address misconceptions, and create clearer pathways for young people, especially girls and young women, to pursue studies and careers in nuclear science, technology, engineering, mathematics,” she said.

For Kenya, integrating nuclear science outreach into the CBE and STEM pathway could give secondary school learners earlier exposure to a field whose applications extend beyond energy to health, agriculture, water management, environmental protection and industry.