Due to the proliferation of tech hubs and incubators in Nairobi Kenya over the last few years, it has been dubbed the home to Africa’s Silicon Valley or the Silicon Savannah. With increased government support and new innovation labs at schools like GEMS Cambridge International School (GCIS), the city will continue to lead the African tech space.
Recently the school launched the LEGO Education Innovation Studio, which is designed to provide a focus point for innovation and creativity in schools. The Innovation Studio which was acquired at the cost of $55,000 provides a complete learning solution for schools while stimulating creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and team-working skills. It is based on a hands-on learning approach aimed to actively engage students in their learning process.
Being the first institution to introduce the globally acclaimed education program into Kenya, the school was praised by Dr. Fred Matiang’I, the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry for Information, Communication and Technology, Kenya. “As technology defines the future of the world’s economy, it is imperative that as a nation, we nurture and train at an early age, innovators and critical thinkers that will leapfrog our ambitions to be a middle income economy,” he said during the launch.
The phrase ‘catch them young’ is perfectly suited for what GCIS is up to. No doubt, the new LEGO Education Innovation Studio which targets Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) curriculum, will enable the pupils become creative and active learners, which will help mould them into future tech innovators. Dr. Fred Matiang’I added that the ministry is keen on creating a pool of future qualified human resources that will not only implement, but also champion innovative change in the country. That is why initiatives like that of GCIS is welcomed and encouraged.
The school’s principal Mr. David McLaughlin stated that the schools investment in the Innovation Studio is a true commitment to its goal of providing quality education in Kenya. “We anticipate that our students will be more passionate about learning and more importantly, their social skills, creative thinking and problem solving will be tapped into.”
Developed in 1980, the LEGO Education program has spanned over 35 years in working with teachers and educational specialists to provide solutions and resources used in the classroom to bring subjects to life and make learning fun.