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Twenty primary schools in Mathioya Constituency, Murang’a County, have been equipped with fully fitted mobile science laboratories, strengthening science instruction and supporting the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The labs were officially launched at Kamune Grounds through a collaboration between the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the School Equipment Production Unit (Sepu).
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Each selected school received a complete mobile laboratory, giving learners regular and hands-on access to science practicals.
Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo said the project was designed to address the infrastructure shortfall in many primary schools that lack permanent laboratory facilities.
Under the Competency-Based Curriculum, practical learning is compulsory, yet constructing conventional brick-and-mortar laboratories in every school would take years and require substantial funding. At a cost of Sh250,000 per unit, the mobile labs offer a faster and more affordable solution.
Mugo noted that the units are spacious enough to accommodate learners and can easily be moved, making them more practical than permanent structures. He added that this is the second batch of mobile laboratories distributed through the NG-CDF to enhance science education.
Each beneficiary institution now owns a fully equipped unit with all the necessary tools for conducting science experiments.
Sepu Board Chairperson Elisha Busienei said the mobile laboratories are designed to be shifted from one classroom to another within the same school, making them ideal for institutions with limited space.
He explained that the new curriculum requires extensive practical sessions, and the mobile labs ensure that even schools without traditional laboratories can meet curriculum standards. For instance, a lab can serve Grade 4 learners in the morning and Grade 6 in the afternoon.
The launch event was attended by senior education and government officials, underscoring the significance of the initiative.
NG-CDF Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Mbuno commended the fund’s continued investment in the education sector, noting that many schools still face infrastructure challenges.
He revealed that since its establishment, the NG-CDF has supported the construction of over 3,000 new schools nationwide, in addition to renovating existing institutions and building extra classrooms.
For schools in Mathioya and the wider Murang’a region, the 20 mobile laboratories signal a shift from predominantly theoretical lessons to more practical science learning.
With increasing emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways at the senior school level, the mobile units provide a timely solution to long-standing resource constraints that have often disadvantaged rural learners.
Parents and pupils who attended the launch welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that the new facilities will deepen understanding of scientific concepts and improve performance in national exams through greater learner engagement.
