By Maryam Ibrahim
African nations are stepping forward to boldly claim their place as leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and innovation, as experts from across the continent convene in Lilongwe for the 22nd Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (COMSTEDA-22).
Held under the theme “Reimagining STEM for a Pan-African Future: Bridging Education, Innovation, and Sustainable Development towards Agenda 2063,” the conference has attracted delegates from more than 10 African countries, with 146 research papers presented by African scholars focusing on African challenges and solutions.
Opening the conference at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Bright Msaka, SC, reaffirmed the Malawi Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote research, innovation, and evidence-based policy development.
Msaka said the administration of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika recognises education as the cornerstone of human capital development and the foundation for economic transformation.
“The forthcoming curriculum reforms mark a bold and progressive step towards reimagining education that is relevant, inclusive, and future-oriented,” he said, adding that the transition from Outcome-Based Education (OBE) to Competency-Based Education (CBE) represents a paradigm shift focusing on what learners can do with knowledge rather than what they merely know.
The Minister further emphasised that Malawi’s new education framework is designed to nurture innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills the essence of STEM education.
He described the reforms as a rethinking of education from knowledge acquisition to empowerment, aimed at producing citizens capable of driving Malawi’s transformation into an industrialised and knowledge-based economy, in line with Malawi Vision 2063 and Africa’s Agenda 2063.President of Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE-Africa), Professor Benson Banda, called for the decolonisation of Africa’s STEM curriculum and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems to make education more relatable and empowering.
“Africa must not only adopt technologies but must invent them through innovation,” said Banda. “We must build confidence among our learners to face and solve real-world challenges,” said Banda.
Hosting COMSTEDA for the first time, Malawi has positioned itself as a hub for educational transformation and collaboration in Africa. The conference provides a vital platform for sharing knowledge, strengthening research networks, and promoting practical innovations across the continent.
