The Executive Director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education and STI, Prof Catherine Ngila, was the Keynote Speaker at the STEM Boot Camp of Excellence whose theme was, ‘Unlocking The Potential in Girls in STEM for a Secure & Sustainable Future for All’. The Camp/ Workshop was organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation and the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa.
Background
‘The role of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Science Technology and Innovation (STI) in sustainable development cannot be underestimated. STEM continues to register low participation of students, particularly girls. Globally, women account for a minority of the world’s researchers, and this is replicated in many STEM fields where they are underrepresented. This low participation of women in STEM fields automatically leads to fewer women who are involved in scientific research. Africa like other continents is no stranger to the shortage of women in STEM fields.’
‘Many female students shy away from selecting STEM related courses due to a combination of factors some of which are exacerbated by the gender stereotypes, cultural practices, attitudes, gender biased teaching and learning materials, socio-economic challenges including marginalization and discrimination within the communities which continue to influence the gendered nature of education and hence determines the occupation of women and men.’
Prof Ngila was invited as Mentor and Role Model to Girls in STEM. She gave a Lecture entitled;
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF GIRLS IN STEM FOR A SECURE & SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL: UNESCO Call to Action , Closing the Gender Gap in Science
Prof Ngila discussed the UNESCO’s key action areas to close the gender gap in science as follows:
- Dismantling gender stereotypes
- Opening educational pathways for girls in science
- Creating safe workplace environments that attract, retain and advance women scientists