What this life looks like
You unlock the future. STEM Teachers — specialising in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — equip young Africans with the analytical, quantitative, and computational skills that power every sector of the modern economy. Africa faces a critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers, particularly in rural areas and girls' schools, making this one of the continent's most urgent and impactful teaching specialisations.
What she actually does
You plan and deliver engaging, inquiry-based lessons in your STEM subject, conduct practical experiments and investigations, use technology to bring abstract concepts to life, prepare students for mathematics and science examinations, identify and nurture mathematically talented students, run STEM clubs and competitions, inspire students — especially girls — to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Government Schools | Public secondary and primary schools across Africa — critical STEM teacher shortage in most countries |
| STEM-Focused Schools | AIMS South Africa, Mastercard Foundation schools, STEM academies and science secondary schools |
| NGO Education | Code for Africa education programmes, She Code Africa schools partnership, STEMettes Africa |
| Corporate Education | Tech companies running school STEM programmes: Google, Microsoft, and Safaricom all invest in school STEM education |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's economic transformation depends on producing the scientists, engineers, and technologists who will build the continent's infrastructure, develop its health systems, and drive its digital economy. Yet girls in particular often leave science and mathematics at the first opportunity, discouraged by poor teaching, limited role models, and cultural messaging that says STEM is not for them. STEM teachers who actively include and inspire girls are transforming Africa's future workforce.
Your pathway in
- Study a STEM degree (Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering) before qualifying as a teacher
- Complete a PGCE or B.Ed. with STEM specialisation
- Develop strong practical and laboratory skills — hands-on science and maths teaching is far more effective than chalk-and-talk
- Connect with STEM teacher networks: African Maths Initiative (AMI), AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences) teacher development, or Royal Society of Chemistry Africa programmes
- Build skills in teaching girls' STEM confidence — gender-responsive pedagogy is a distinct and important skill
Skills you will need
- Deep STEM subject knowledge
- Inquiry-based and hands-on teaching
- Girls' STEM confidence building
- Laboratory management
- Examination preparation
- Making abstract concepts concrete
A woman in this field
Lydia Kibinge
Kenya
Lydia is a Kenyan educator and the founder of the African Maths Initiative (AMI), which has trained thousands of mathematics teachers across East Africa in active, inquiry-based teaching methods that transform how students engage with mathematics. Her work has reached students in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and beyond, and has been particularly focused on building mathematics confidence and competence in girls and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has shown that with the right teaching, every child can succeed at mathematics.
Take your first step
- Run a maths or science session with younger students in your school or community — discovering that you can explain something clearly and excitingly is often what ignites a STEM teaching vocation
- Research the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and their teacher training programmes at nexteinstein.org — they are the most rigorous STEM education development initiative on the continent
- Study research on gender and STEM education in Africa — understanding why girls leave STEM and what works to keep them is essential for any STEM teacher aspiring to make a real difference
- Connect with the She Code Africa community to understand how African women in tech think about STEM education and what they wish their school experience had been like