Teacher Education in sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) 2

TESSA is a network of teachers and teacher educators working alongside The Open University with the aim of improving the quality of classroom practice and access to teacher education resources across Sub-Saharan Africa. TESSA was launched in direct response to requests from teacher education institutions across sub-Saharan Africa, where one in three young people do not complete primary school. Through the TESSA programme The Open University and TESSA partners—African universities, institutions and education experts—develop and maintain a bank of pedagogic subject resources, contextualised for 10 languages/countries (Ghana, Tanzania [Swahili], Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan [Arabic], Zambia and Togo [French]) across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Open University provides access to these as Open Educational Resources (OER) online, in print and in digital document formats, which can be used and adapted for a wide range of teacher development and teaching needs. TESSA’s extensive bank of OER support national curricula and can be integrated into pre- and in-service teacher training programmes or used independently by practicing teachers to develop their pedagogic skills and classroom practice. They feature activities, practical examples and resources that teachers can use in their classes to actively engage pupils in learning. Guidance handbooks and toolkits help teachers and teacher educators integrate the study units in their courses effectively. Under this grant the priority is to address sustainability of the TESSA programme through a strategy involving improving access, embedding the programme and approaches and building capacity.