Scaling teacher training in East Africa

TeachUNITED’s mission is to develop the skills of teachers in rural and disadvantaged schools. By providing them with appropriate teaching tools, it aims to improve academic outcomes, reduce inequalities in learning and, in the long term, contribute to the fight against poverty through high-quality education.

This project supports TeachUNITED’s activities in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, where the organisation is responding to a teaching crisis that is particularly acute in rural areas. Teachers in sub-Saharan Africa are faced with work overload, professional isolation, a lack of resources and a high turnover rate, compounded by a lack of training: according to UNESCO, only 64% of primary school teachers and 50% of secondary school teachers in sub-Saharan Africa are considered to be adequately trained.

To meet these challenges, TeachUNITED implements an evidence-based teacher mentoring and leadership programme in two phases:    

- The organisation trains educators from schools, grassroots NGOs, and local governments, equipping them with the skills to become certified Teaching Coaches.

- These Teaching Coaches then deliver sustained, personalised support and lead professional learning communities for teachers, building long-term capacity from within the system.

With the support of the Audemars Piguet Foundation for Common Good, TeachUNITED plans to strengthen these programmes in three ways:

- Skills development at its Innovation Hubs in Nairobi and Arusha, combining workshops, webinars and digital courses.

- Extending the programme through partnerships with local NGOs and education authorities.

- The creation of innovative digital tools, including a mobile application and an AI chatbot, to support teachers in planning their lessons and integrating emerging technologies.

With this project, TeachUNITED plans to train nearly 2,000 teachers and improve the learning outcomes of over 86,000 pupils in the three target regions.