Let's Talk Education Africa

In this episode of Let’s Talk Education Africa , we explore character development in Ghana’s Senior High School curriculum, looking beyond academic performance to the values, attitudes and choices that shape young people. Senyo speaks with Mr. Bismak Tay, an international leadership consultant and founder and CEO of Bismak Tay Leadership Solutions, to examine school indiscipline, corporal punishme...

Should Free SHS be for everyone, or should it be targeted at those who need it most? At Let’s Talk Education Africa’s first-ever live event, La Presbyterian Senior High School and Kinbu Secondary Technical School faced off in an intense debate on the motion: “The Free SHS Policy Must Be Targeted at Those Who Really Need It.” The debate brought two compelling perspectives to the table. While one si...

Should Free SHS be for everyone, or should it be targeted at those who need it most? At Let’s Talk Education Africa’s first-ever live event, La Presbyterian Senior High School and Kinbu Secondary Technical School faced off in an intense debate on the motion: “The Free SHS Policy Must Be Targeted at Those Who Really Need It.” The debate brought two compelling perspectives to the table. While one si...

At our first-ever in-person event, Let’s Talk Education Africa brought together voices from different perspectives for a candid conversation about the state and future of education in Ghana. This special panel discussion, moderated by Senyo and featuring Elizabeth Patterson and Divine Kpe, explored the barriers standing between Ghanaian students and a genuinely quality Senior High School education...

Access to quality education remains one of Africa's greatest challenges. Not because schools are unavailable, but because affordability, financing, and long-term sustainability continue to limit learning opportunities for millions of children across the continent. In this episode, Senyo speaks with Irene, founder of the IDP Foundation and author of The School in the Market , about IDP's approach t...

Maybe the problem isn't that young people can't learn tech. Maybe it's how we've been teaching it. In this episode, Senyo speaks with Michelle, founder of Nyansapo Institute, about why too many learners leave school knowing the theory but lacking the skills to build, create, and solve real problems. They discuss what it takes to prepare young people for careers in tech, why hands-o...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Fatma, an education leader whose journey spans public health, child protection, international development, and school leadership, to explore what future-ready education looks like in a world shaped by rapid technological change, artificial intelligence, and evolving workforce demands. Fatma reflects on the purpose of schooling, the skills young people need to thr...

In this episode, Aml speaks with Evans Sinkari, Country Director of Right to Play Ghana, an international NGO dedicated to educating, protecting, and empowering children through the power of play. This conversation addresses the key barriers to children's access to quality education in Ghana, the importance of child-centered learning, and how collaboration among educators, families, and commun...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with education economist and researcher Dr. Peter Anti-Partey on the realities of education financing in Ghana and across Africa. Far from a simple case of "no money," Dr. Anti-Partey reveals how political interests, inefficient spending, and a disregard for data-driven equity are stalling educational progress. The episode further examines the role of citizens and civ...

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Prof. Ulrich Paquet, Research Scientist at Google DeepMind and Director of AI at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), and Sepehr Hejazi Moghadam, Senior Programme Manager at Google.org and lead of the Science Ecosystem portfolio, to unpack the launch of a freely accessible AI curriculum. Developed from the ground up with African educators to in...

In this episode, Aml speaks with Jane Clayson Johnson and Brian Ashton, president of BYU Pathway Worldwide, together with a Ghanaian student, Benjamin Kwesi Ahialorxo, whose life has been directly transformed by the program. BYU Pathway's efforts have provided thousands of students in Africa with greater access to higher education, making it more affordable and closely linked to real opportunities...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Evelyne Keomian-Wood, founder of the Karat School Project. Evelyne’s early experiences with hunger, poverty, and limited access to learning shaped her belief that education can break cycles of poverty, a belief that has led her to establish the Karat School Project. The conversation highlights the key barriers many children still face in accessing education, part...

Imagine a child in a classroom, bright, curious, and full of ideas. But every time words dance on the page, they twist into shapes that don’t make sense. The teacher thinks the child isn’t trying hard enough, and report cards carry painful labels that stick for years. Yet beneath all that, the child isn’t slow. The child isn’t incapable. The child simply learns differently. In this episode, Aml sp...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Mr. Modern Karema, the Uganda Country Director for STiR Education, about the organization’s mission to help teachers thrive and transform learning outcomes. The conversation explores STiR Education’s efforts in strengthening education systems by building the capacity of government structures rather than creating parallel ones and helping school leaders, district...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Lazarus Muthenya, Programmes Manager at Edutab Africa, a Kenyan EdTech organization making digital learning accessible to offline communities across Kenya and beyond. Lazarus takes us inside Edutab’s mission and the pillars that drive their work: Digital Learning Solutions, Teacher Professional Development, STEAM education, and the African Children’s Stories podc...

Education technology (EdTech) is widely recognized for its potential to strengthen access, improve quality, and bridge gaps in Africa’s education systems. Yet, the expectations of EdTech have not always matched the reality on the ground. Uncertainties linger around access, sustainability, equity, and whether technology is truly transforming learning outcomes for African students. In this episode,...

What began as a simple high school project has, over the past two decades, grown into a transformative force for education, health, and community development. Julie-Anne and three friends launched the African Education Program (AEP) with nothing more than books, computers, and a desire to make a meaningful connection with disadvantaged youth in Kafue, Zambia. Over the years, their work has been sh...

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on an upcoming event transforming how African educators connect, collaborate, and champion education rooted in African realities- The AfricanISE Virtual Conference . Created to fill the gap for a dedicated space centering African voices and issues in education, this gathering aims to inspire a renewed sense of urgency and purpose among educators across the con...

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Lawrence Boakye Dankwah, Head of Education Programs at EduSpots, an organization reshaping education through a community-led model that centers local leadership and ownership. EduSpots began with the simple idea of “reading spots” and has since evolved into a dynamic network of over 50 community owned learning spaces, known as “Spots,” spread across Ghana and bey...

“If you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation.” - Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey Girls’ education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming societies across Africa. Educated girls are more likely to become empowered women who uplift their families, communities, and nations. Yet, barriers such as poverty, gender norms, and disability continue to limit access for many girls across the...

While many African classrooms continue to center instruction around textbooks and rigid curriculums, we continue to ask: Are we truly equipping our learners with the skills, mindset, and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, tech-driven world? As the demands of the 21st century evolve, so too must our approach to learning. This episode explores the urgent need to move beyond rote le...

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 w...

Could the solutions to learning crisis already exist within education systems? In this episode, Aml speaks with Jessica Bergmann, an Education Research Specialist at UNICEF Innocenti, on the Data Must Speak positive deviance research. For the past 3 years, Jessica has been supporting this initiative, which empowers school actors as change agents and aims to harness existing data and local solution...

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...

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 initiat...