By Christopher Omondi
Junior Secondary School students at Arina Comprehensive School now proudly benefit from a fully equipped STEM laboratory, complete with gas installation and all essential laboratory apparatus to enhance practical learning. This state-of-the-art facility reflects the school’s unwavering commitment to “provide a conducive learning environment that nurtures innovation, scientific inquiry, and excellence in education.”
Designed for hands-on science learning, the STEM lab features workstations, gas points, and apparatus for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics experiments. According to school leadership, this lab empowers JSS learners to transition from theory to practice, building essential skills aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Teachers and BOM members are enthusiastic about this significant development, highlighting that it addresses a long-standing gap in science education. “For years we have been teaching science using charts and demonstrations. With this lab, students can now conduct experiments themselves. It will undoubtedly boost their confidence, curiosity, and performance in STEM subjects,” stated Madam Valary Awuor.
BOM Chair, Mr. Okello, emphasized, “This is a major step for Arina. We are committed to ensuring the lab is well maintained, used safely, and that teachers are supported to integrate practicals into every topic.”
Dr. Laura Odhiambo, Program Lead at the Kisumu Education and Innovation Network (KEIN), a community-based organization dedicated to supporting STEM in public schools, asserted, “We commend Arina Comprehensive for prioritizing practical learning. A lab is only as good as its utilization. We urge the school and partners to invest in teacher training, establish lab safety protocols, and create a maintenance fund. The lab should also be opened to neighboring schools for shared use so that more learners benefit. STEM must be inclusive; girls, learners with disabilities, and those from low-income homes must have equal access to equipment.”
The project received vital support from the area Member of Parliament, Dr. Joshua Oron, who presented the report and reinforced government commitment to CBC and STEM. “As a government, we recognize that the future of our country lies in science and innovation. Equipping JSS learners with modern labs like this one at Arina is how we prepare them for jobs that don’t exist yet,” he stated. “My office will continue working with the Ministry of Education and the County to ensure more schools in Kisumu receive similar facilities. However, we must also guarantee proper staffing of lab technicians and a continuous supply of consumables.”
