Teachers are the heartbeat of education systems. Yet across the globe, particularly in low-income countries, many educators face classrooms without the skills, support, or resources they need to help students thrive. The Global Partnership for Education’s Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) has taken an ambitious step to bridge that gap through evidence-based, scalable teacher professional development (TPD) initiatives.
STEM Teacher/student Education for Primary Schools (STEPS) was one of the research projects, designed to address the challenges of primary schooling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, and Anglophone Cameroon. The broad research goal was to determine the impact of TPD, new pedagogy, and curriculum materials on the performance of primary school teachers and students in Math and Science in these countries.
A recent infographic summarizing findings from the GPE KIX research synthesis on TPD paints a powerful picture: when teacher development is done right, the ripple effects are felt across classrooms, schools, and entire education systems.
The Urgency: Why TPD Matters
Some statistics from the report are sobering:
- 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read a simple story by age 10.
- Only 81% of primary and 71% of lower-secondary teachers in GPE partner countries meet minimum qualification standards.
- 52:1 is the average student-to-trained-teacher ratio in low-income countries, more than triple the ratio in high-income countries.
- 70% of today’s secondary teachers will need to be replaced by 2030, highlighting the need for sustainable retention strategies.
The message is clear: quality teaching is in crisis, and effective, scalable TPD could be the solution.
The GPE KIX Approach: Grounded, Innovative, and Scalable
Between 2020 and 2024, GPE KIX supported several research projects across more than 20 countries. These projects didn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. They adapted existing models, leveraged digital tools, and co-created new strategies in collaboration with local educators and governments.
All successful TPD models shared five core features:
- Focus on both curriculum content and pedagogy
- Use of active adult learning strategies
- Peer collaboration and learning
- Involvement of expert facilitators
- Long-term, sustained teacher support
These elements helped drive real change on multiple levels:
Transforming Classrooms and Schools
- In Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, in-school mentoring programs improved math teaching through student-centered methods.
- In Honduras and Nicaragua, peer tutoring reshaped classroom dynamics, boosting student autonomy and metacognition.
- In Bhutan, Nigeria, and Tanzania, STEM-focused initiatives like CL4STEM advanced inclusive teaching practices.
- In Haiti and Saint Lucia, initiatives were aimed at both teachers and school leaders to help them foster innovation.
- In Cameroon, Benin, and the DRC, STEPS introduced teachers to student-centered strategies.
Strengthening Systems
- In Ghana, a national Moodle platform now delivers government-designed content to 60,000 teachers.
- In Nigeria and Bhutan, proven TPD models are being institutionalized at scale within ministries of education.
- Digital platforms like PARI have made TPD accessible even in remote, multi-lingual regions across West and Central Africa.
The Road Ahead: Making TPD a Cornerstone of Global Education
Even with these advances, the world is still on course to have 300 million children lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills by 2030. That’s why initiatives like GPE KIX are not just timely—they are essential.
Investing in teachers is not just about training—it’s about creating sustainable systems that support continuous learning, equity, and innovation. As this research shows, when educators thrive, so do their students.
To dive deeper into the projects and findings, explore the GPE KIX Knowledge Repository.
You can learn more about the STEPS Project here.
