About Kenya Science Teachers College
Kenya Science campus is the former Kenya Science Teachers College (KSTC). It was established in 1965 through partnership between the Government of the Republic of Kenya and the Swedish Government. The Campus is situated in Nairobi, along Ngong’ Road, approximately 8 Km from the City center. The KSTC initially trained S1 teachers to teach Sciences and Technical Education (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Industrial Education) in secondary schools. From 1980, it started training Diploma in Science Education teachers in the same science subjects. In 2002, the College introduced Computer Science as a main teaching subject alongside the Sciences. A basic ICT course was also introduced as a support subject for all students admitted in the college to enable them be computer literate upon graduation.
The KSTC was elevated to become a Campus of the University of Nairobi following recommendations by the Public Universities Inspection Board, which were accepted by the Government of Kenya for subsequent implementation. It was officially handed over to the University on October 9th 2007 and renamed Kenya Science Campus.
The Kenya Science Campus falls under the School of Education, College of Education and External Studies (CEES). The recommendation to upgrade the former KSTC to a University Campus was informed by the observation that the Campus would expand teacher training in science education but at graduate level as the Diploma curriculum was phased out. Consequently, the first intake of Bachelor of Education Science students was admitted in October 2007. This cohort graduated in September 2011, while the last Diploma graduation was realized in November 2009.
The Bachelor of Education Science students are allowed to specialize in their preferred subject areas. Combinations can be drawn from Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Physical Education and Sport, Agriculture and Geography. The teaching staff for these subjects are therefore drawn from four of the six colleges of the University namely, College of Education and External Studies, College of Biological and Physical Sciences (CBPS), College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).
To effectively coordinate the administration and teaching of the various course units, two Associate Deans are stationed at the Campus. The Associate Dean Science (Dr. Chumba Isaac Kipchirchir) coordinates matters related to the teaching subjects in liaison with the relevant Deans and Directors of schools and faculties in CBPS, CAVS and CHSS, while The Associate Dean Education (PROF. DIGOLO PATRICK OBONYO OCHIENG) deals with the education courses in liaison with the Dean, School of Education, Kikuyu Campus.
The plan for the Campus is to be a premier institution for teacher education in science and technology. In order to realize this, world-class interdisciplinary approaches to science teacher education shall continue to be entrenched through collaborative research, industrial linkages, and introduction and launch of additional relevant programmes. Indeed, following the recent approval by the University of Nairobi Senate, the Bachelor of Education (ICT) was launched in May 2013. It is also worthwhile to note that the Campus is already hosting the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science programme from CBPS.
Since taking over the Campus in 2007, the University has created a serene environment conducive to learning and working. The accommodation and catering facilities have been refurbished; games and sports facilities have either been restored or invigorated. Lecture venues have been renovated and physical infrastructure expanded. Construction of state-of-the-art chemistry, biology and physics laboratories each with capacity of 200 students has been realized. A modern 500 – capacity fully networked lecture theatre, fitted with motorized twin projectors and screens has also been completed. This particular facility has now made the Campus an attraction centre for both local and international conferences. Indeed, in August 2013, the Campus hosted two international conferences: One on Distance Education and Teacher Education in Africa (dubbed the DETA Conference). This conference was jointly organized by the University of Pretoria, University of Nairobi and the South African Institute of Distance Education. The other is the 8th Pan African Reading for All Conference held on 12th – 16th August 2013.
The Campus also hosts a number of Secretariats and National Projects, including: The University of Nairobi Alumni Association, The University of Nairobi Quality Assurance, The Early Grade Reading Instruction Curriculum (EGRIC) Project; The Centre for African Women Studies; and The School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU), Strengthening Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE) Project, and the National ICT Integration and Innovation Centre (NI³C) of the Ministry of Education.