Parents have reacted with shock and disbelief after it emerged that President Ruto’s government has dropped Mathematics from the list of compulsory subjects for students transiting to Senior School.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi while expressing his displeasure on the latest move by government wondered how the students will know how many chapatis they had eaten in a week when mathematics is dropped.
Former Permanent Secretary Irungu Nyakera described the move as a reckless policy that needed to be reconsidered and review quickly.
Nyakera who is the current chairman of Kenyatta Internationa Conference Centre (KICC) wondered how we can be making mathematics optional while leading global economies double down on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“China and Japan mandate mathematics study throughout schooling to drive their tech, manufacturing, robotics and engineering dominance,” said Nyakera.
He added that the United States mandates mathematics through high school, reflecting strong emphasis on STEM while in the United Kingdom, mathematics is mandatory until age 16 and recent discussions are to enhance it beyond that age.
Nyakera added that Germany another European giant prioritizes mathematics in vocational and academic tracks to sustain industrial growth.
He wondered why a country struggling with low productivity, declining numeracy skills, declining industrialization and youth unemployment scrap mathematics at such an elementary level.
“Are we not denying our children possibility of long term social economic progress? Lets align our reforms to global education standards while catering to diverse talents. STEM is the future,” Nyakera.
Education Permanent Secretary Belio Kipsang shocked the country and the education fraternity when he said that learners in senior school will not be forced to pursue mathematics and science subjects.
Many parents and education stakeholders while appreciating that students are gifted differently believe the future is better secured with STEM subjects.
