Repositioning: State to drive growth via technology – Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has said the government has repositioned technology as a driver of the country’s economic growth. 

He said technology is a prime enabler of sustainable competitiveness, with the power to elevate the country to middle-income level.

Speaking during the Young Scientists Kenya Awards at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, yesterday, Ruto also asked Kenyans to support the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for the country to achieve its development goals.

Present were Education CS George Magoha, PSs Kevit Desai (TVET), Colleta Suda (University Education and Research), Belio Kipsang (Education), Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Ireland Ambassador to Kenya Fionnuala Quinlan and Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer, Safaricom.

Ruto said 8-4-4 system was a weak link in the country’s goal towards technological advancement adding that it is the reason the government embraced CBC.

 “I appeal to all our stakeholders to work together in ensuring successful implementation of CBC whose focus is more on science, innovation and technology as the only way to achieve our development goals as a country,” he said.

Proper training

 He assured Magoha that the government was committed and would do everything possible to ensure successful implementation of the system.

 “With no proper education and proper training, our Vision 2030 might just be the other way round, Vision 3020. Our education system should just be in tandem with the requirements of where we want to go as a nation,” he said.

The DP science was going to rule the future, saying the country should be ready to adapt to emerging issues in the changing world. 

 “Because we must not only catch up, but also compete relentlessly with the best in the world, we have to scale up our engagement with the science, technology and innovation space, especially among our young generation,” he added.

  He said science creates opportunities for societies in ways that no other endeavour can match.  “We need more science in this country.  We must develop a bigger interest in science courses to change the development trajectory of our country,” he said.

Inspire students

 Magoha said that his ministry and Blaze by Safaricom, are working together with the government of Ireland, which formed YSK, to inspire students to pursue Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses through outreach, linkages and extension programmes and a platform in which students will showcase their scientific research, technologies and innovations.       —DPPS