We're rebuilding the foundation of teacher education in africa.

We're a start-up education organisation with a vision to transform teaching and school leadership across the African continent. We are currently based in Johannesburg, where we are running pilot programmes of our innovative curriculum, and building partnerships with several leading school networks. We are inspired by cutting-edge teacher training institutions (such as Relay GSE and Sposato GSE) to build the most innovative, impactful and scalable teacher training institution in Africa. 

THE STATE OF African education

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Sub-Saharan Africa will account for two-thirds - or 6.2 million - of the new teachers needed globally by 2030. As the school-age population expands, this growing demand is exacerbated; for every 100 primary school students in 2012, there will be 147 children in 2030. Countries in the region will have to fill almost four million existing teaching positions by 2030, as well as create and fill 2.2 million new ones.

Unfortunately, simply adding more space at established teacher training institutions (TTI) will not achieve this target. Nor will it engender much-needed improvements in student learning and skill-development. TTIs’ current pedagogy emphasises theoretical understanding of best practices, and not the practical, field-tested skills that today’s teachers actually need in order to serve today’s students in today’s classrooms. TTIs also fail to attract the highest quality young professionals, deepening challenges associated with teacher training and increasing costs associated with retraining and attrition.

Instill Education believes that transformative teaching will have unparalleled influence on student outcomes, that a consistent pipeline of qualified, effective teachers will enable African Education to exceed the charge set by the Millennium Development Goals, and that although large scale education reform must start with education accessibility, it can neither survive nor flourish without in-classroom teaching excellence.

 

IMMERSIVE

We offer a practical-intense programme where trainees spend over 50% of their time in the classroom teaching and building proficiency through deliberate practice.

 

 

INTEGRATED

We prepare trainees to transition seamlessly into the school classroom; the learning journey and year-one teaching experience are integrated through simulation, classroom practice, and classroom training.

 
 

Evidence-informed

We employ evidence-based pedagogies that focus on the core skills of teaching. Our methodology ensures that the science that underpins great teaching drives learning activities, evaluation, and evidence.

DEMAND-DRIVEN

We have tailored our programme to the needs of our partner schools. By driving the competencies they value, we create a strong pipeline of teacher talent.

 

 

 
 

Contextualised

We work with leading training institutions and global education experts to ensure our methodology remains at the cutting edge of teacher education. This is complemented by master facilitators with extensive experience in African classrooms.

data driven

We maintain a strong focus on data which drives candidate selection, student performance, and teaching practice, and allows us to continuously adjust and improve in real time.

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.”
— Plato

Core team

TOM PARRY, Co-founder and managing Director (South Africa)

Teach First graduate, and former CEO at Business Bridge

Tom has spoken to PGCE students demotivated by their training and the environment into which they are heading. He's also spoken to thousands of entrepreneurs who would be creating massive social change, if not for poor quality education. As a former teacher, Tom knows how rewarding teaching can be, the difference teachers can make in children’s lives, and that teacher education is the key piece to solving long-term inequality. He is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers (Cape Town Hub).

ALIM LADHA, FOUNDER

Founding CEO at ALU, and Former Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company

Alim is an education strategist and former McKinsey associate. His strengths lie in a deep understanding of how adults learn, strong experience in education strategy, and a passion for building new institutions, recognising not only the poor quality of teaching but also the scarcity of teacher-as-leader programmes in Africa.

LESEDI NKHAMBULA, TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE

Education technology guru

Lesedi is resident technologist at Instill. She is currently completing a degree in Computer Science and comes from an entrepreneurial background. Education is a new challenge for her, but she is convinced of the transformative role that technology can play in raising the performance of both teachers and learners across the continent. 

Maryke Bailey, Director of Teaching and Learning

High school teacher, education author and teacher development specialist

Maryke gained her PGCE at Wits before going on to study a Masters in Intellectual History at the University of Sussex in the UK. She taught high school English and History and co-founded Phemba, an organisation that aimed to inspire and support teacher excellence in South Africa. Maryke left full-time teaching to expand her education interests in teacher development. She has experience in creating and reviewing educational materials and lectured at Wits Education Campus. She eats, sleeps and breathes teacher development in South Africa. 

Margaret Mcgillivray, Teaching and Learning Associate

Foundation phase teacher and early childhood development specialist

Margaret is a Foundation Phase and Childhood Development specialist, with a BEd from Wits.  After graduating, she taught on a farm school in Mpumalanga involved in an ABSA Talk Together Project using THRASS to promote Literacy skills.  Upon her return to Johannesburg she co-founded Phemba, an organisation set up to mentor, encourage and support teachers in an effort to attract, and keep, competent teachers in the profession.  Margaret's driving belief is that the educator is the greatest resource in the classroom and that a deep understanding of both the child and development is needed in order for a teacher to be effective.

 

Advisors

FRED SWANIKER

Fred is deeply passionate about leadership in Africa. He founded the African Leadership Academy and the African Leadership Network. Fred has continued this mission to reimagine education and build a network of leaders in Africa with the founding of ALU. Fred began his professional career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Siven Maslomoney

Siven manages Inclusive and Sustainable Growth at Yellowwoods Ventures Investments and designs solutions for the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Siven also works as a change manager for the Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes (PILO) and has been involved in public education for over 15 years.

STEVEN REISSIG

An advisor to the to the Undersecretary of the Government of Bahrain Steven has extensive experience in education strategy and implementation, leadership development, and due diligence and diagnostics.

 

Ketso Gordhan

Ketso is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative South Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Most recently he was the executive director and head of private equity at Rand Merchant Bank. He is a former Johannesburg City Manager.

Michelle friedman

Michelle is an education consultant with a formidable background in adult learning with African Leadership University, the Independent Examination Board, the South African History Archive, and the Apartheid Museum.

CHINEZI CHIJIOKE

An education expert and social entrepreneur, Chinezi is the Founder and CEO of Pioneer Academies. He was previously the Head of McKinsey & Company's African Education Practice.

Partners

We are inspired by some of the leading teacher training institutions in the world for content (e.g. Sposato GSE, Relay GSE) and innovative networks of African partner schools (e.g. SPARK Schools, Pioneer, Nova Academies, Streetlight Schools). This unique combination of cutting edge methodologies, mission-aligned school networks, and innovative business model set us apart from the competition and will ensure our success in achieving our vision. 

Open Positions

We're looking to fill the following position in Cape Town by end February 2017:

Teach and Learning Associate

Click on the position for more information on how to apply.

Contact us to discuss our offering, job opportunities, and more.

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