STEP-EA Project Workshop

The University of Nairobi and Egerton University successfully held a joint workshop from July 6 to July 10, 2025, at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) in Naivasha. The workshop was organized as part of the ongoing research initiative titled “Supporting Teacher Education, Wellbeing, and Retention via Informing Feasible Educational Policies and Incentives in Africa” (STEP-EA).

The STEP-EA project is a collaborative, mixed-methods research effort that addresses pressing issues facing the teaching profession in Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania, including teacher wellbeing at work, retention, shortages, and attrition. By generating in-depth and novel empirical evidence, the project aims to shed light on the lived experiences of teachers, focusing on their professional agency, commitment, and overall wellbeing.

The research further seeks to inform evidence-based policy recommendations and provide practical implications that will shape educational policy, teacher education programs, and school practices across Africa.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was graced by prominent academic leaders, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC RIE), University of Nairobi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research & Extension, Egerton University, the Dean, Faculty of Education and the Ministry of Education representative. Their presence underscored the institutional commitment to advancing teacher-focused research and developing sustainable educational solutions in the region.

Over the three-day workshop, participants engaged in robust discussions, shared interim findings, and developed strategies to further the impact of the STEP-EA project. The event also provided a platform for networking and collaborative planning among researchers, education stakeholders, and policy experts from across East Africa.

This workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening teacher support systems and ensuring the long-term success and wellbeing of educators across the continent. The outcomes of the STEP-EA project are expected to contribute meaningfully to national and regional education reforms, and ultimately to improved learning environments for both teachers and students.

 

Click here for the programme.