Safaricom has partnered with UNESCO, and Eneza Education to implement a digital mentorship programme for high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The program involves working with role models and mentors to provide students with information on STEM subjects to enable them make informed career choices.

Learners will get a chance to engage with tutors through programmes on local TV and community radio stations as well as through SMS via the short code 40291.

“We are implementing lessons picked during this COVID-19 pandemic to partner with other organisations to provide meaningful solutions for our customers via alternative channels,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom, CEO.

“For this digital programme we are using our partnership with Eneza’s Shupavu 291 solution to give students access to mentors and information on STEM subjects via SMS.”

Over 40 radio stations and a local TV channel will air the live shows during which students will be encouraged to send questions via SMS to 40291.

The mentors and facilitators of the show will then send responses to each question as they engage the learners.

The programme will run for the next 11 weeks.

“We are happy to be part of this project leveraging our existing Ask a Teacher platform on Shupavu 291 to adapt the mentorship solution. We believe that this will keep students connected to STEM in the face of this global pandemic irrespective of their gender and socio-economic backgrounds,” said Wambura Kimunyu., CEO, Eneza Education.

“Through this project we hope learners will be able to nurture interest in STEM through the linkage between them and the role models in the STEM profession, through online interaction and the continual access to mentorship services,” said Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, Regional Director, UNESCO.

During this period of containment UNESCO has partnered with the Ministry of Education, the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, the National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) and Safaricom to provide students with information on STEM Education.

The programme will enable students overcome gender stereotypes about STEM careers, hence developing interest in science related subjects while learning from home.

Statistics show that only 22 percent of all students who are enrolled in Kenyan universities are in STEM fields despite the large number of related programmes on offer and the critical role they play in development.