Highlights from COMSTEDA 18 Virtual Conference
The 18th Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (COMSTEDA 18) was held virtually on 23rd-26th November 2021. The event brought together educational expertise, featuring ministry of education officials, directors and policymakers, researchers, teachers and educators, students, representatives from private and public organizations, and non-governmental organizations. 187 participants from 16 African countries (Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Lesotho, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia) were in attendance. The forum was hosted by Mozambique in collaboration with SMASE-Africa. The conference theme was “Teacher Professional Development in Africa: Knowledge, Skills, Values & Attitudes in STEM Learning Environments”.
The event was honored by the presence of Professor Manuel Bazo, Vice Minister of Education and Human Development from Mozambique. In his opening remarks, he emphasized how shared ideas and experiences would inform country-level programs and enhance STEM education quality. Professor Cyril Julie from the University of the Western Cape delivered a compelling keynote address focusing on effective continuous professional development of mathematics teachers to improve learners’ results.
Conference presentations were organized across four strands: teacher professional development in STEM, school culture and learning in STEM, STEM curriculum development and assessment, and ICT integration in STEM education. A total of 44 presentations were made, with the most significant number of presentations focusing on STEM curriculum development.
Dr. Benson Banda, President of SMASE-Africa, in his closing remarks challenged participants to create a balanced approach that integrates policy, research, and practice to develop effective STEM learning environments. Founded in 2001, SMASE-Africa continues to be dedicated to developing mathematics and science education across African countries, with its regional secretariat located at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), Nairobi, Kenya. The virtual format of COMSTEDA 18 demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of educational professionals in maintaining dialogues during challenging times.
Snapshot of conference participants