Kisakye at work at the glass workshop where materials used in school laboratories are manufactured

By Joyce Nyakato

ON entering the workshop, one cannot help but notice wooden protractors and metre rulers neatly stacked. The room is filled with people engaged in different tasks like drilling wood and smelting metal. More fascinating is the ease with which the lady bends glass.

Juliet Kisakye is a glass technician employed at the Science and Technology Equipment Production Unit (STEPU). Under the umbrella of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the unit is a key component in the implementation of the Government’s policy geared towards improving the teaching of science and technical subjects.

It started as a Ministry of Education initiative to create a production centre to boost the teaching of sciences, an idea that is also working in Nairobi. It was established in 1987 with one office and a store at the then Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) with one staff member.

The unit is out to help meet the growing demand for the improved scientific and technical facilities in schools. Its overall aim is to improve the practical teaching of science and technology by providing laboratory equipment to schools.

Erias Twinomugisha, the STEPU project manager, says in 1989, the institution acquired hand tools like saws which they used to make simple wooden equipment like rulers.

Owing to the lack of machinery and staff in the mid 1990s, the unit enlisted support of technical institutions like Nile Vocation and Moyo Technical Institute to do the actual production.

The unit would give them the expertise to enable them manufacture equipment which would later be distributed to schools. With the help of the African Development Bank (ADB) II project from 2006-2007, they acquired machinery to increase the production capacity. They became more capital intensive as compared to the original labour intensive production technique.

The now education III project enables them get raw materials. “Although we use locally available raw materials, for glass and thermometers, we have to import because they cannot be accessed here,” says Twinomugisha.

The unit has two workshops — the glass blowing workshop and the metal and wood workshop. The unit comprises, one fitter machinist (metal), eight craftsmen (wood), two glass blowers, a plumber and a technician. They produce laboratory equipment for physics, chemistry and biology subjects, blackboards, drawing and glass ware.

Among the 182 laboratory equipment produced, there are compasses, boiling tubes, burette stands, thistle funnels, cell and lens holders and manometres.

Not only does the unit produce new equipment, it also rehabilitates laboratory water, gas and electrical installations. Through this project, the Government is confident some of the material needs of schools are met within an environment of enhanced use of practical teaching methods.

According to Engel Jacobs, the production manager, many of the production staff are already acquainted with the machinery. Since this work is similar to the one they have been doing, they are able to adjust easily.

Apart from production, STEPU has the maintenance and training section which undertakes equipment repair, maintenance and provides skill transfer and training programmes for science teachers and laboratory technicians in handling use and the repair of science equipment.

The programmes have been introduced to schools throughout the country.

“With the help from NCDC, we research new designs and obtain feedback from schools on manufactured items,”says Twinomugisha.

The import substitution strategy sounds good to many economists because we can get good out of it. Economists say the Government revenue is realised when you buy commodities made from the country other than repatriating profits of imported products to their home governments.

A locally made metre bridge costs sh40,000 as compared to the imported one which goes for sh60,000. An imported double pulley goes for sh5,000 on the common market contrary to its local counterpart which goes for sh2,500. The piles of finished laboratory equipment piled up in their stores pending supply tell it all.

Twinomugisha says the biggest challenge faced is marketing the locally made products.

“The market is fairly competitive comprising many private firms who are better business people than we are.” Our glass equipment pricing policy is more expensive because of the production costs like importing glass. People opt to go in for cheaper products, placing our competitors at an advantage over us.

He adds that their business counterparts are advantaged by the product promotions and price discounts that they offer to attract their potential markets.

Another challenge is the bureaucratic tendencies of big institutions for purposes of accountability. This causes delay in procurement of raw materials which hinders quick deliveries for urgent orders

Despite the challenges and the stunted growth of the unit Twinomugisha hopes for change in the years to come. Looking back to the beginning of STEPU, he is certain of big achievements.