Côte d’Ivoire Hosts Africa-Wide Tech Workshop for Coding and Robotics Teachers

A technology workshop in Côte d’Ivoire trained robotics and coding teachers from 27 African countries as part of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation’s Science Fest Africa initiative. The programme focused on coding, robotics, and digital teaching skills to improve STEM education, with plans to extend similar training across Africa.

A continent-wide educational technology workshop has been conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, bringing together robotics, coding, and information technology teachers from 27 African countries. The programme was organised by the Türkiye Maarif Foundation as a continuation of the recently held Science Fest Africa (SFA), which took place on April 21 and gathered participants from across the continent.
The Africa Educational Technology Workshop was designed as an intensive capacity-building programme aimed at improving the teaching and application of modern science and technology subjects in African schools. It placed strong emphasis on practical, hands-on training to help educators better integrate digital skills into classroom learning. Key focus areas included algorithmic thinking, basic and advanced coding, robotics programming, problem-solving methodologies, digital design processes, and the effective use of educational technology tools in lesson delivery.
The workshop was attended by senior dignitaries and education stakeholders, including Deniz Erdoğan Barım, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Abidjan; Mahmut Mustafa Özdil, President of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation; Zeynep Arkan, Member of the Board of Trustees; and board members Ahmet Türkben and Halime Kökce. Their participation reflected the growing emphasis on international cooperation in education, particularly between Türkiye and African countries seeking to expand their science and technology capacity.
During the programme, the delegation visited multiple training sessions where teachers were actively engaged in coding exercises, robotics development, and digital project creation. Ambassador Barım highlighted the importance of sustaining the momentum generated by Science Fest Africa and encouraged participants to fully embrace the training opportunities provided. He noted that such initiatives play a vital role in strengthening educational systems and preparing young people for a technology-driven future.
Mahmut Mustafa Özdil, President of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, described the workshop as a meaningful extension of Science Fest Africa, stressing that it brought together educators from across Africa in a shared learning environment. He explained that the initiative is not just a one-time event but part of a broader vision aimed at improving academic quality and teaching standards across the continent. He emphasized that collaboration and knowledge-sharing among teachers are essential to achieving long-term educational transformation.
Participants took part in structured training sessions that combined theory with practical application. They learned how to develop algorithms, design interactive coding projects, and build basic robotic systems using sensors, circuits, and programmable devices. The programme also introduced teachers to gamification techniques designed to make learning more engaging for students, as well as digital assessment tools that allow for more efficient evaluation of classroom performance.
Ahmet Türkben, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, explained that the workshop represents the continuation of a broader educational journey. He noted that while Science Fest Africa has officially concluded, its impact continues through ongoing training and development activities. According to him, the real value of the initiative begins after the festival, as teachers apply what they have learned in their classrooms and contribute to new educational projects. He also stated that both online and in-person training programmes will continue, with preparations already underway for the next edition of Science Fest Africa.
Yusuf Sert, Coordinator of the Curriculum and Accreditation Department, emphasized the forward-looking nature of the programme. He stated that the goal is to immediately translate training outcomes into practical classroom projects and to support teachers in developing innovative science and technology initiatives for the following academic year. He added that Türkiye aims to share its expertise across various specialised fields in order to support educational innovation and capacity building throughout Africa.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participating teachers were reported to have significantly strengthened both their technical skills and pedagogical approaches. They are now better equipped to integrate robotics, coding, and digital learning tools into their teaching, thereby improving student engagement and learning outcomes in science and technology subjects.
The Türkiye Maarif Foundation further announced that similar workshops will continue to be organised in other African countries. Officials stated that Science Fest Africa is intended to evolve beyond a single event into a sustainable educational ecosystem, designed to support long-term development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education across the continent.