Editor,

RE: "Africa’s technological revolution will start in schools & research labs” (The New Times, February 14, 2017).

This is 100% correct. The big challenge is our teaching method. Teaching STEM in Africa is only done in theory while we need labs in every single lesson.

Lab is not experimentation in front of the class but a group of two or three students having their own equipment and making lab tests according to the procedure and writing down the report of their manipulation.

Theoretical teaching gives understanding but to move from classroom teaching to industrialisation, we need to enhance the education of our youth in learning by doing and implementation of technical skills.

Only lab and research bring these technical skills. Africa needs a new generation of STEM teachers in the 21st century.

Africa Development