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There are no careers designed only for boys or girls, says PS Nabukwesi

 The government has said that there is a need to give women equal opportunities to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics [STEM] courses in order to reduce the big gap which has been there between male and female gender.

University of Embu Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi addresses a conference on Women in Science Without Boarders at his university. Photo/BRIAN MUSYOKA

Principal Secretary, State department for University Education and Research Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi said despite Kenya having a strong scientific publishing record and a high number of researchers, only 26 per cent of researchers were women according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics Report, 2015.

“There is a need of Building a Gender Inclusive Sustainable Future Through Science, Technology and Innovation. This is indeed very relevant and timely because gender inclusivity and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin and none can exist without the other,'' said Nabukwesi.

Speaking virtually during the official opening of three-day 6th International Conference for Women in Science Without Borders at the University of Embu, Nabukwesi said that many women were not being given necessary chances to participate in science and technical fields and they were also being underrepresented in STEM.

Nabukwesi asserted that less than a third of female students choosing to study higher education choose subjects like engineering and mathematics. 

He noted that the Kenyan Government has taken steps to address gender inequality in society in conformity with the Constitution and the Vision 2030

provisions.

Leadership positions

''Our universities and research institutions in Kenya are keen on implementing measures to allow meaningful women’s participation in science, technology and innovation as well as leadership positions,'' said the PS.

He said Kenya’s National Commission for Science and Technology (NACOSTI) has set aside funds to enable women scientists to conduct research, while the Nairobi-based African Academy of Sciences (AAS) has allocated travel grants to support women scientists to travel to conferences and other fora to present their research findings as a way of ensuring women are fully involved.

The PS noted that there was immense improvement in many aspects of life such as health, agriculture, infrastructure and renewable energy due to the advances of STEM and that it was the high time that countries took advantage of the changing science technology and innovation space to ensure no gender is left out.

''We need to think of a global educational system that is able to address the challenges facing women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Giving equal opportunities to women in STEM reduces the gender income gap, thus, providing women with economic security ''said the PS.

He urged Kenyans to stop the common stereotypes that say a certain career is for girls and another one is for boys.

''We need to encourage our daughters to believe in themselves and that they can also make it in all careers,'' observed Nabukwesi.

University of Embu Vice chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi said everything in the world is computerized and scientifically engineered and that there is need to encourage students, especially the female ones to venture into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields for the future of the nation.

He said issues like climate change, global pandemics such as COVID-19, terrorism, threat to species extinction including humans, food security, population growth and societal fragmentation that have caused humanitarian crises globally require science and research to help in addressing the challenges therein.

STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI

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