Instituto Superior Técnico was part of an educational mission to Principe Island, in Sao Tome and Principe, with the aim of providing in-person training for 40 local teachers. Organised by the municipality of Oeiras, the initiative involved five trainers in the areas of Portuguese, Mathematics, Science, Arts and Project-Based Learning, who promoted methodologies to improve the quality of teaching in the region.
In the field of Science, the mission featured Maria João Verdasca, manager of the “Engenharia para Todos” project at Instituto Superior Técnico and INESC-ID, where the Lab in a Box stood out. With its set of materials, this resource made lessons more practical and engaging, sparking students’ curiosity and encouraging active learning.
Over the course of two weeks, each of the five trainers worked daily with two classes in the morning, reaching a total of nearly 1,500 children. Afternoons were dedicated to teacher training sessions, where new pedagogical strategies were introduced, and best educational practices were shared.
Beyond the classroom activities, the team was welcomed by the President of the Regional Government of Principe, Filipe Nascimento, and met with the Regional Secretary of Education, Fátima Cassandra, to discuss the island’s educational needs and future collaborations. Additionally, connections were established with the Principe Foundation to bring the local school community closer to institutions, and the training team also participated in a waste collection campaign on the island.
At the closing ceremony, teachers received their diplomas from the President of the Regional Government himself, in a celebratory moment that included a traditional gathering. According to Maria João Verdasca, the impact of the training was evident through small yet significant changes in teaching practices, such as improved classroom organisation and more dynamic, participatory lessons. “The transformative power of education was evident in every child’s smile and in the teachers’ dedication to embracing new teaching methods”, remarked Maria João Verdasca.
