The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has raised alarm over the government’s decision to exclude mathematics from the list of compulsory subjects in the Arts and Sports Science and Social Sciences pathways.
In a statement on Monday, IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme warned that the move could have long-term negative effects on Kenya’s economic competitiveness and workforce readiness.
“We express deep concerns over the decision to remove mathematics as a compulsory subject. While curriculum flexibility is valuable, this decision poses challenges that may impact Kenya’s workforce readiness and economic sustainability,” Kiteme stated.
The engineers argued that a solid foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is critical for the country’s industrialization, infrastructure development, and technological growth. While they support efforts to strengthen STEM education, they warned that eliminating mathematics as a requirement could hinder Kenya’s progress.
IEK has proposed an alternative approach, suggesting the introduction of applied mathematics for non-STEM pathways. This would involve incorporating subjects such as financial literacy, statistics, technical measurements, and computational thinking.
“Instead of removing mathematics entirely, introduce practical applications to ensure students acquire problem-solving, analytical, and financial literacy skills,” Kiteme added.
The Ministry of Education’s recent announcement to drop mathematics as a compulsory subject sparked mixed reactions from education stakeholders. Learners transitioning to senior secondary school will now be required to take English or Kenyan Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning as mandatory subjects.
