About Us
Who We Are
Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education in Africa (SMASE-Africa) is a network of African countries started in the year 2001 as an initiative for addressing challenges facing mathematics and science education. It is registered in Kenya under the Societies Act CAP 104 of the Laws of Kenya and its Secretariat and headquarters are located in Nairobi Kenya at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA).
The SMASE-Africa network seeks to create synergy in promoting dialogue on effective classroom practices in mathematics, science and technology education through research, fostering relevant policies, networking, collaboration, advocacy and capacity building.
The association has created avenues through which member countries benefit from regional conferences, technical workshops and technical exchange visits. To date, there are 27 member countries registered with SMASE-Africa and over 1,500 educators have benefited from these initiatives. Development partner, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Government of Kenya (GoK), funded the initial programs. The focus of the various programmes are innovative practices that are replicable in member countries. SMASE-Africa has successfully organized seventeen (17) international conferences and three (3) regional technical workshops.
Vision
Vision
A leading organization in effective classroom practices for quality education in Africa
Mission
Mission
To promote effective classroom practices in mathematics, science and technology education through research, fostering relevant policies, networking, collaboration, advocacy and capacity building for educators in Africa
Core Values
Core Values
Professionalism, relevance, innovativeness, accountability, teamwork and respect for individual country differences
Our Strategic Objectives
The SMASE-Africa Association exists to:
- Promote and develop the capacity of educators in Mathematics, Science & Technology [MST] education
- Conduct research and publish in MST education with a focus on classroom practices
- Engage in advocacy, networking, and partnership within and across.
- Mobilize resources for the program activities and ensure effective utilization.
Historical Background
SMASE-Africa is closely intertwined with the Strengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE) Project in Kenya that was to address the challenge of low student achievement in mathematics and science at secondary school level in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) in 1998. This informed other Africa countries on the need to create the Strengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa [SMASSE-ECSA] Association in 2001, which evolved into SMASSE in Western, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa [WECSA] in 2003. During its implementation, SMASSE Project demonstrated its potential to impact teacher classroom practices positively. It is the initial successes of the SMASSE Project in Kenya that led other African countries facing similar challenges in mathematics and science to start SMASSE-WECSA association. The idea of including primary training programmes in some member countries led to changing the name to Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education [SMASE] in 2006.
The Africa Union Commission (AUC) challenged the delegates in 2013 to transform the Association into a Pan-African organization that covers all African countries. This saw the delegates meeting in 2013 approve the name SMASE-Africa, which opened up membership to the entire continent. SMASE-Africa was thus registered in Kenya under the Societies Act in 2014.