Let's Talk Education Africa

Education research in Africa has long been a crucial aspect of shaping the continent’s future. However, the dominance of Western-led research initiatives has often led to a lack of locally relevant evidence to inform policies and practices. 

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Dr. Lucy Wakiaga, Associate Research Scientist at African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). Dr. Wakiaga shares her insights on the importance of locally led research in enhancing education outcomes in Africa, emphasizing the need for African researchers to drive change. She discusses the Enhancing Education Research in Africa (EERA) project, an innovative initiative that takes an 8-part intervention approach to strengthen education research systems in Africa. By identifying and addressing the specific needs of African researchers, EERA project aims to create a robust ecosystem that supports locally led research, increases funding, and fosters intra-African collaborations. 

The conversation highlights the ultimate goal of improving learning outcomes for African children by generating robust evidence that informs policies and practices.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Dr. Vida Awinime Bugri, a dedicated researcher and passionate advocate for gender equity in STEM education. With teaching experience in France and a strong commitment to social justice, she has seen firsthand the systemic challenges women face in STEM fields. This insight inspired her to establish Eduvision, an NGO focused on empowering, mentoring, and training women in STEM across Ghana.

In this conversation, Vida discusses her research on ‘The Impact of STEM Higher Education in the Economic Development of Ghana,’ revealing key findings that shed light on the critical role of STEM education in Ghana’s economic growth. Furthermore, she offers insights into the current state of STEM inclusivity in Africa, highlighting challenges and opportunities for improvement, and shares her compelling vision for transforming STEM education, emphasizing the importance of accessibility, diversity, and innovation.

Data is the backbone of informed decision-making in education; and in today's data-driven world, it is more crucial than ever for educators to stay ahead of the curve and leverage data to drive student success. 

Building on this imperative, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) launched the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge in Africa project, a 5-year initiative aimed at supporting 30 African countries to produce and use quality data on education and skills for informed decision-making. Through this project, the Association seeks to strengthen capacity within the education system, enhancing the production and utilization of quality data across policy, planning, program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Inyan Udo-Umoren, Project Manager for the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge Project in Africa, as they delve into the significance of data-driven decision-making in education, particularly in response to crises and informing policy and planning. Inyan shares insights in education systems and expertise in education data systems, highlighting challenges, opportunities and best practices in harnessing data to improve education outcomes in Africa.

The strategic integration of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education have shown promising results globally. But what are the implications, opportunities, and challenges of these emerging fields in African educational contexts, and how can AI be harnessed in the continent’s education system?

In this episode, Kwame explores these questions with Emmanuel Mawuli Kanati, a renowned Data Specialist and Researcher. Emmanuel shares his insights on the pioneering research applications driving change in African education. The conversation delves into the opportunities and challenges of harnessing AI and Data Science to enhance learning outcomes, personalized education, and strengthen administrative systems across the continent.

In this episode, Senyo Speaks with Esther Tawiah, Director of the Gender Centre for Empowering Developments, as they delve into the critical topic of Decolonizing Higher Education in Africa. Esther shares her insights on the need to break free from imposed educational systems and create a path that reflects African value and knowledge. 

The episode also explores the delicate balance between embracing modernity and preserving traditional ways of knowing.

Tune in to listen.

Inspiring teachers is a leading organization committed toempowering teachers with exceptional support, enabling them to deliver high-quality lessons and enhance student learning outcomes. Through evidence-based approaches, they have positively impacted thousands of teachers across Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on foundational literacy. Their teacher development programs have spanned multiple countries including Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana.

In this episode, Aml speaks with Simon Graffy, Co-Founderand CEO at Inspiring Teachers, exploring the organization’s initiatives and assessingtheir innovative approaches to transforming classrooms across Africa.

For 20 years, Sabre Education has championed quality of education in Ghana, providing children with the best possible early childhood education through comprehensive teacher training, transforming school learning environments, and advocacy.

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Robert Quansah, Senior ECE Technical Manager at Sabre Education to evaluate the organization’s Fast track transformation teacher training program aimed to build capacity of teachers to improve teaching practices and learning outcomes of children. Implemented in four (4) regions, the Eastern region’s rollout across 6 districts and 274 schools has equipped over 1,000 teachers, reaching over 18,000 children.

Tune in for insightful discussions on the program’s effectiveness and Sabre Education’s lasting legacy.

In today's rapidly evolving technological terrain, research is undergoing a transformative shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the research process, streamlining workflows, and enhancing outcomes.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Dr. Philip Adu, a renowned researcher and founder of Research Methods Consulting, as he addresses key research challenges, and shares expert insights on navigating research complexities, leveraging AI, and ensuring research quality.

As the world increasingly shift towards digitaltransformation, Heather Beem, CEO and Founder of Practical Education Network (PEN) conducted research to assess the feasibility, effectiveness and impact of transitioning STEM teacher training in Ghana from traditional in-person to fully online.

In this Episode, Kwame speaks with Heather to explore the key findings of the research and discuss effective strategies to fostering STEM engagement, particularly among young learners.

Read the full publication here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382846351_Transitioning_Hands-On_STEM_Teacher_Training_in_Ghana_from_an_In-Person_to_Online_Modality

The Jacobs Foundation is collaborating with Edlabs across four countries to enhance evidence use in education policy, addressing the limited systematic evidence on policy labs' effectiveness. In this episode, Senyo speaks with Samuel and Marcela on a recent report that analyses key issues in the use of evidence and provides practical recommendations for their mission.

Read the full report here: https://jacobsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Learning-brief-policy-labs-and-evidence-use-in-education.pdf

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Triumph Tetteh, Director at Starters technology. Triumph has always been passionate about Technology and Engineering. However, his journey into education began unexpectedly while serving as a research assistant at KNUST, when he took the opportunity to give children piano lessons. This experience intrigued him about how kids' brains work and how they grasp and assimilate knowledge at very young ages, leading him to the question: "What if education was predictable given the right exposure and experience?" He became determined to create a tailored educational journey for children, utilizing data feedback to optimize their learning experiences and set them on a path to success.

Triumph's outfit, Starters Technology, is a child development company that explores the interests of younger ones, using technology to guide and accelerate their growth and prepare them for future careers. By doing so, Starters Technology solves two critical problems: providing custom-designed and personalized programs for children and merging education, innovation, and career development to exist in the same system.

Kwame explores Triumph's insights on the education space in Ghana, delving into Starters Technology’s successes and the impactful work they are doing nationwide.

In this episode, we delve into a conversation with Manny Oppong, COO, and Oscar Yaw Asamoah, CEO of Techten Planet, sharing their personal journeys and mission to empower the next generation of tech leaders. Driven by a shared vision, they established Techten Planet to bridge the gaping education gap in Ghana by providing practical, hands-on STEM experiences that foster lifelong learning. This conversation sheds light on the stark reality of Ghana’s education landscape, where theoretical knowledge outweighs practical skills. To address this, Techten Planet focuses on equipping students with tangible skills, enabling them to start businesses or secure employment within the tech industry. Tune in to discover Techten Planet’s commitment to their mission and their successes.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with William Odartei, a seasoned marketer and an education advocate with over 15 years of professional experience; he is the Marketing officer at TECHAiDE, a pioneering Ghanaian EdTech company.

Founded by educationist Mr. Kafui Prebbie in 2011, TECHAiDE has been harnessing ICT to improve education and support youth development, and impacted over 400,000 lives through innovative programs like ASANKA, Edulab, and Makerspace, tailored for the African context.

William shares his insights on Ghana's educational landscape highlights TECHAiDE's remarkable journey, successes and missions.

Tune in to learn more about this promising organization.

In this episode, Kwame delves in a conversation with Charity Akpabey, a remarkable Digital Business Consultant at VGC Group and author of the empowering book, Tech Hustle. Charity's journey is a testament to her determination and adaptability, having transitioned from a non-tech background in economics, geography, population studies, and demography to achieving remarkable success in project management, programming, digital marketing, product management, and data science.

Her book is a captivating fictional tale which follows a young girl's journey from humble beginnings to building a thriving tech business, offering a relatable and authentic perspective on overcoming challenges and staying true to one's passion. Charity shares her fascinating story of transformation, the motivations behind writing Tech Hustle, and her accomplishments along the way.

Don't miss this uplifting discussion, packed with valuable insights and inspiration. Tune in now to listen!

This episode unfolds the story of how a young boy’s ambitions were nearly derailed when he was denied entry into his dream university’s engineering program due to lack of science background. Despite facing rejection, his passion for technology and commitment to helping build IT solutions for people drove him to become an experienced UX specialist with a software engineering background.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Prince Boateng Asare, a co-founder and CEO of STEMAIDE Africa, an EdTech startup dedicated to revolutionizing education in Africa by fostering problem solving skills, creativity, analytical and critical thinking and an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in young Africans, sharing his insights on the latest disruptions and innovations in Ghana’s education sector.

Tune to learn about the Stem Aide Africa and their work including the STEM AIDE kit, STEM Aide curriculum, and the STEM Aide Lab, designed to empower young Africans with STEM-based skills.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Genevieve Simiyu, the Chief Operating Officer at Chalkboard Education, to discuss her inspiring journey.

After taking a break from school and life, Genevieve took the leap and moved to Ghana, where she worked on digital literacy projects. This experience opened her eyes to the gaps in Ghana’s education sector, particularly the lack of relevant online courses for African learners. She noticed that despite the youth’s thirst for knowledge, they faced barriers due to poor internet connectivity and non-localized content. This sparked Genevieve's quest for a more sustainable approach to education, leading to the creation of Chalkboard Education.

Join us as Genevieve shares her assessments of the disruptions and innovations in the education sector post-COVID, and dives into Chalkboard Education’s mission, vision, challenges, and successes in making digital training accessible to all.

In this episode, Kwame Speaks with Ebenezer Kwaku Boakye-Yiadom, a young man who despite facing formidable challenges, his unwavering resilience and determination propelled him upward, earning him a series of distinguished degrees and certificates in Education. He’s now dedicated to impacting young minds through technology, and he works for the Triggers & Shappers Foundation as a Public Relations Officer.

Triggers and Shappers is a non-governmental organization with a mission to promote a mentor and mentee model that emphasizes creativity, innovativeness, entrepreneurship and digital literacy for rural empowerment.

Ebenezer shares his personal journey and inspiring stories of his organization’s impact since its inception, transforming lives in rural Ghanaian communities through digital literacy and entrepreneurship training.

Tune in to learn about their work and discover ways to contribute to their mission.

In this inspiring episode, Kwame speaks with Ernestina Appiah who shares her journey from being a secretary in an IT firm to becoming a successful entrepreneur and educator. She is the founder and CEO of the Ghana Code Club, an after-school program empowering children aged 5-17 with computing skills, confidence and the opportunity to shape their world.

Ernestina opens up about the challenges she faced, the successes she's achieved, and the lessons she's learned along the way. She also shares her perspectives on the education space in Ghana, the importance of networking, and her advice for those looking to enter the education sector.

Tune in to hear the remarkable story of Ghana Code Club, its impact, and its future plans. Get ready to be inspired by Ernestina's passion, resilience, and dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders in technology.

From a young age, Dr. Nefertiti envisioned a transformative approach to education when she realized education didn’t have to be boring and tough. Her educational journey, spanning the USA and Ghana, fueled her passion for innovative teaching and learning. Driven by a desire to empower educators and revolutionize education, she pursued expertise in learning science and 21st-century teaching strategies. Dr. Nefertiti Puplampu is a renowned learning science and curriculum specialist with an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Technology, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies. As the learning science lead at the Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL), she’s now leading the charge to transform education in Africa by enabling teachers to develop engaging, effective, and inclusive learning strategies that propel students’ success. In this episode, Kwame engages Dr. Nefertiti Puplampu in an intriguing conversation. She shares insights in her journey, from challenging traditional teaching methods to developing innovative approaches, and IATL's cutting-edge projects that are reshaping the future of learning.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with education specialist, Divine Kpe, about the state of Basic education in Ghana. Divine reflects on his personal journey, from growing up in a fishing community with limited access to education to becoming a teacher and later, an education policy expert. He now works as the Senior Program Officer for the Africa Education Watch, a research and advocacy organization dedicated to reforming education in Africa. His story and expertise offer insightful analysis of the educational system, digging deep into the systemic problems, developments, elements influencing high-quality education, as well as the reforms and interventions happening in the sector. He also makes a strong case for sustainable solutions to improve access to quality education for all. Listen now and enjoy the conversation!

What does it take to transform the lives of thousands of girls, one educational opportunity at a time? Join us as we commemorate 10 remarkable years of Girls Education Initiative Ghana's journey of transformation, empowerment, and change.

In this episode, Kwame Speaks with Elizabeth Akua-Nyarko Patterson, the Founder and executive director of the GEIG. Driven by her life experiences and research, Elizabeth set out to champion a drive for quality and inclusive girls' education; creating an environment where girls, regardless of their circumstances and shortcomings, could receive quality education to enable them to become capable leaders in their communities. Through its scholarship, leadership development, mentorship, and professional advancement masterclass programs, GEIG has impacted the lives of over 20,000 young girls in the past decade. 

Listen in to hear inspiring stories and insights, as well as learn about the organization's continuous efforts to change the lives of countless girls.

In this episode, you will hear the story of how a college student’s desire to build a library in rural Ghana led him and his friends on to start an organisation empowering over 500 young Ghanaians to be agents of systemic change in Ghana’s education system? Kwame speaks with Daniel Dotse, CEO and Co-Founder of Lead For Ghana. We dig deep into Daniel’s life experiences and how that shaped the his vision for Lead For Ghana. Lead For Ghana (LFG) is dedicated to cultivating a new generation of ethical and effective leaders who can drive meaningful social change in Ghana by tackling educational inequity and addressing leadership gaps within the country.

By identifying, training, and placing talented recent university graduates and young professionals in underserved schools nationwide, LFG provides an immersive leadership experience that prepares young talented Ghanaians to be lifelong actors and advocates for an excellent education.

In episode 21, Senyo speaks with Dr. Ellen Abakah, lecturer and researcher at the Department of Adult Education and Human Resources Studies at the University of Ghana. Ellen reflects on teacher professional development policy and practice in Ghana, highlighting major debates and key recommendations for accelerating teachers' learning.

In episode 20, Anna speaks to Charles, Partnerships and Uganda Country Lead at Inspiring Teachers. Inspiring Teachers is an award-winning innovative nonprofit strengthening support for teachers in low-resource contexts. Charles reflects on the perception of teachers, major debates on teacher motivation, shares the works of Inspiring Teachers and highlights strategies for supporting teachers to stay motivated and excel.