The Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship 2026 is an opportunity for young women with backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to develop their teaching, leadership and professional skills while contributing to improved secondary education in Uganda.

Implemented by Teach For Uganda under the Leaders in Teaching Program, the STEM Fellowship is designed to address the need for more capable, committed and well-supported STEM teachers in Uganda, with a particular emphasis on increasing the participation and leadership of women in STEM education.

The pilot programme is supported by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented through a consortium led by the Luigi Giussani Foundation and other education partners.

The fellowship combines classroom teaching, professional development, coaching and leadership development. Fellows are placed in secondary schools and supported to become effective teachers, mentors and role models for learners, particularly girls who may face barriers to participating confidently in STEM subjects.

What Is the Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship?

The Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship is a pilot programme focused on strengthening STEM teaching in Uganda’s secondary schools.

The programme recognises that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are increasingly important to education, employment, innovation and national development. However, access to quality STEM education remains uneven, particularly for learners in underserved communities.

The fellowship therefore seeks to recruit young people with strong STEM backgrounds and develop them into teachers and education leaders.

Participants are not simply placed in classrooms and expected to teach independently. The fellowship provides structured preparation, coaching and continuous professional development to help Fellows build the skills required to become effective educators.

The programme also creates a pathway for young women with STEM backgrounds to enter education, take on leadership responsibilities and become visible role models for girls interested in science and technology.

Why STEM Education Matters in Uganda

STEM subjects play an increasingly important role in preparing young people for a changing world.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics influence how people:

• Understand the world around them
• Solve complex problems
• Develop new technologies
• Create businesses and employment opportunities
• Respond to social and environmental challenges
• Participate in the future workforce
• Develop innovative solutions
• Contribute to national development

Despite the importance of STEM education, many learners continue to encounter barriers that affect their participation and confidence.

Girls in underserved communities can face additional challenges, including limited access to role models and learning environments that encourage them to pursue STEM-related opportunities.

The Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship seeks to address some of these challenges by bringing more talented STEM graduates and young professionals into secondary-school classrooms.

Through effective teaching and mentorship, Fellows can help learners understand that STEM is not simply about memorising formulas or concepts. Instead, STEM can be practical, creative and connected to real-world challenges.

A Focus on Girls and Women in STEM

One of the distinctive aspects of the STEM Fellowship is its emphasis on increasing the participation and visibility of young women in STEM education.

The programme recognises that representation matters.

When girls encounter women who are teaching science, mathematics and other STEM-related subjects, they can see examples of women actively participating in fields that have historically had gender-related participation gaps.

The fellowship therefore seeks to create opportunities for young women to:

• Teach STEM subjects
• Become classroom leaders
• Mentor learners
• Encourage girls to participate in STEM
• Serve as positive role models
• Develop their own leadership abilities
• Contribute to education reform and community change

The broader goal is to strengthen both the teacher pipeline and the participation of girls in STEM learning.

About the STEM Fellowship Pilot

The STEM Fellowship operates as an intentional pilot under the Leaders in Teaching Program.

As a pilot, the programme provides Teach For Uganda with an opportunity to test the effectiveness of a leadership-focused fellowship model within secondary STEM education.

The organisation can use lessons and evidence generated through the programme to understand:

• How STEM teachers can be effectively recruited
• How new teachers can be prepared for classroom responsibilities
• What types of coaching and professional development are useful
• How leadership development can strengthen teaching
• How STEM learning can become more learner-centred
• How girls’ participation in STEM can be encouraged
• How the fellowship model could potentially be strengthened and expanded

The pilot is therefore not only intended to benefit individual Fellows. It is also designed to generate learning that can contribute to longer-term improvements in Uganda’s education system.

What Fellows Will Do

STEM Fellows will be placed in secondary schools where they will contribute directly to teaching and learner development.

Their responsibilities and experience are expected to involve more than delivering lessons.

Fellows will be supported to develop classrooms where learners can:

• Ask questions
• Explore ideas
• Test concepts
• Solve problems
• Connect classroom learning with real-life situations
• Develop confidence
• Become more curious about STEM
• Participate actively in the learning process

The programme encourages Fellows to use learner-centred and inquiry-based approaches rather than relying exclusively on memorisation.

Training, Coaching and Professional Development

A key component of the fellowship is professional preparation and ongoing support.

Fellows receive structured training, coaching and continuous professional development to help them grow into effective educators.

This support is intended to help Fellows strengthen both their technical knowledge and their teaching abilities.

Areas of development include:

• Classroom leadership
• STEM teaching
• Learner-centred education
• Inquiry-based learning
• Professional growth
• Leadership
• Mentorship
• Community engagement
• Problem-solving
• Education equity

This combination makes the fellowship a leadership-development pathway as well as a teaching programme.

One-Year Postgraduate Diploma in Education

Successful Fellows must be willing to undertake a one-year, fully funded Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) during their first year of enrolment.

This is an important part of the professional development pathway.

The PGDE can provide Fellows with formal training in education and pedagogy while they develop their practical experience as teachers.

Because the programme specifies that the PGDE is fully funded, Fellows who meet the programme requirements do not have to pay for this training themselves.

The Teach For Uganda Approach

Teach For Uganda views teaching as a form of leadership.

Under the STEM Fellowship, this philosophy means that teachers are expected to combine strong subject knowledge with:

• Classroom leadership
• Creativity
• Commitment to learner development
• Community engagement
• Problem-solving
• Continuous learning
• Advocacy for education equity

The programme aims to develop teachers who can influence not only what happens during individual lessons but also how learners perceive themselves and their future opportunities.

Learner-Centred STEM Teaching

The fellowship promotes learner-centred approaches to STEM education.

Instead of positioning learners as passive recipients of information, Fellows are encouraged to create classrooms where students actively participate in the learning process.

This can include encouraging students to:

1. Ask questions about concepts they encounter.
2. Investigate problems.
3. Test ideas.
4. Explore possible solutions.
5. Connect academic concepts with everyday experiences.
6. Work through challenges.
7. Develop confidence in their ability to solve problems.

Such an approach can help make STEM learning more practical and engaging.

Community-Based Leadership

The fellowship also encourages Fellows to contribute to community-rooted solutions that can improve learning.

This reflects the programme’s broader leadership philosophy.

Rather than viewing education challenges only from inside the classroom, Fellows are encouraged to understand the communities they serve and consider how local circumstances influence educational outcomes.

This can help Fellows develop leadership skills that extend beyond traditional teaching responsibilities.

What Makes the STEM Fellowship Different?

The programme identifies several areas that distinguish the STEM Fellowship.

1. STEM Subject Focus

The fellowship is specifically designed to strengthen teaching in science and mathematics-related areas and develop a stronger pipeline of STEM educators.

2. Girls’ Leadership

The programme places particular emphasis on creating pathways for young women to enter STEM teaching and become leaders and role models.

3. Classroom Impact

Fellows are prepared to improve how STEM subjects are taught and experienced by learners.

4. Leadership Development

The fellowship aims to develop leaders who can contribute to education change beyond their immediate classroom responsibilities.

5. Systems Learning

Because the programme is a pilot, Teach For Uganda intends to learn from the experience and use evidence from the initiative to inform future development and potential expansion of the model.

Who Is Teach For Uganda Looking For?

The programme is looking for young leaders who believe education can contribute to Uganda’s future.

Ideal candidates should demonstrate a combination of STEM knowledge, leadership potential and commitment to education equity.

Teach For Uganda highlights candidates who are:

• Passionate about education equity
• Strong in STEM knowledge
• Willing to develop their teaching abilities
• Committed to supporting learners
• Particularly interested in supporting girls in STEM
• Open to coaching and constructive feedback
• Committed to continuous learning
• Willing to teach in secondary schools
• Flexible about school placement
• Interested in contributing to broader education change
• Ready to serve underserved communities

The programme is particularly committed to developing pathways for young women with STEM backgrounds.

VISIT HERE, for more imformation.

Eligibility Requirements for the Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship

Applicants must meet the mandatory eligibility requirements set by the programme.

1. Ugandan Citizenship or Refugee Status

Applicants must be either:

• A female Ugandan citizen, or
• A refugee currently residing in Uganda.

This means the programme is not presented as an open international fellowship for applicants from other countries.

2. Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM Field

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.

The degree must have been completed with a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

Applicants should therefore have an academic background that is relevant to Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

3. Age Requirement

Applicants must be between 22 and 27 years old at the time of application.

Candidates outside this age range would not meet the stated mandatory age criterion.

4. English Language Proficiency

Applicants must be proficient in English.

English proficiency is important because Fellows will teach in secondary-school classrooms and participate in training and professional development.

5. Flexibility on School Placement

Applicants must be willing to be placed in any USE (Universal Secondary Education) secondary school.

This means candidates should be prepared to serve in the school location assigned to them rather than requiring placement in a particular school or area.

Flexibility regarding placement is therefore an important part of the fellowship.

6. Commitment to Education Equity and Leadership

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in:

• Education equity
• Leadership
• Community change
• Supporting learners
• STEM education
• Girls’ participation in STEM

The programme is intended for candidates who want to contribute to educational improvement rather than simply obtain teaching experience.

7. Willingness to Undertake the PGDE

Applicants must be willing to undertake the one-year, fully funded Postgraduate Diploma in Education during their first year of enrolment.

This is a mandatory component of the programme.

Benefits of the Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship

The fellowship provides several professional and educational benefits to successful participants.

Fully Funded Postgraduate Education

Fellows are supported to undertake a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education during their first year.

The PGDE is described as fully funded under the fellowship.

Teaching Experience

Participants gain practical experience teaching in secondary schools.

This can help STEM graduates develop real-world classroom experience and understand the responsibilities involved in education.

Professional Development

Fellows receive training, coaching and continuous professional development.

This gives participants opportunities to strengthen their teaching and leadership skills over time.

Leadership Development

The fellowship is structured as a leadership pathway.

Participants are expected to develop skills that can help them contribute to education and community change beyond their classroom roles.

Mentorship and Coaching

Ongoing coaching and support provide Fellows with guidance as they transition into teaching and develop professionally.

Opportunity to Inspire Girls

Women participating in the fellowship have the opportunity to become visible STEM role models for girls in secondary schools.

This can contribute to broader efforts to encourage girls to develop confidence and interest in science and technology.

Contribution to Education Equity

Fellows serve in secondary-school settings, including underserved communities, allowing them to contribute directly to efforts aimed at improving educational opportunities.

Participation in a Broader Education Movement

The STEM Fellowship forms part of Teach For Uganda’s wider work to advance equitable access to quality education.

Fellows therefore become part of a broader movement focused on education leadership and systemic change.

Leaders in Teaching Program

The STEM Fellowship is implemented under the Leaders in Teaching Program, a flagship initiative supported by the Mastercard Foundation.

The programme is implemented through a consortium led by the Luigi Giussani Foundation.

The Leaders in Teaching Program brings together education partners working to strengthen secondary education through areas such as:

• Teacher recruitment
• Teacher training
• Leadership development
• Teacher motivation
• Professional support
• System-level education support

Teach For Uganda’s contribution focuses on strengthening the teacher pipeline by recruiting, preparing and mentoring STEM teachers who demonstrate both subject mastery and leadership potential.

Teach For Uganda’s Role

Teach For Uganda brings more than a decade of experience in leadership development and classroom placement to the STEM Fellowship pilot.

Through this initiative, the organisation is applying its experience to the specific challenge of strengthening secondary STEM education.

The programme therefore represents an expansion of Teach For Uganda’s work into secondary education and a deeper focus on STEM teaching and girls’ education.

Vision for the STEM Fellowship Pilot

Teach For Uganda describes the STEM Fellowship as the beginning of an important shift in its work.

The initiative expands the organisation’s focus into:

• Secondary education
• STEM education
• Girls’ education
• Women’s leadership
• Teacher development
• Education systems strengthening

The organisation aims to learn from the pilot, strengthen the model and potentially develop pathways that can support more learners, schools and communities over time.

The broader vision is based on the idea that improving education depends not only on getting children into school but also on the quality of learning, the people leading that learning and the opportunities learners can envision for themselves.

Is the STEM Fellowship Free?

Yes.

Teach For Uganda states that all services provided under the STEM Fellowship are free of charge.

There are no fees associated with:

• Registration
• Training
• Scholarships
• Other services provided through the programme

Applicants should therefore be cautious of anyone claiming to represent the programme and requesting payment for registration or participation.

For questions or concerns about the STEM Fellowship, Teach For Uganda provides the recruitment contact:

Email: recruitment@teachforuganda.org

How to Apply for the Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship

Interested and eligible applicants should submit their applications through the official application portal provided by Teach For Uganda.

The application link provided by the programme is:

APPLY HERE.

Applicants should ensure that they meet all mandatory eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

In particular, prospective candidates should verify their:

1. Ugandan citizenship or refugee status in Uganda
2. Female eligibility requirement
3. STEM Bachelor’s degree
4. Minimum CGPA of 3.0
5. Age between 22 and 27
6. English proficiency
7. Willingness to accept placement in any USE secondary school
8. Commitment to education equity and leadership
9. Willingness to undertake the fully funded one-year PGDE

Important Application Information

The fellowship is specifically designed around the needs of Uganda’s secondary education system.

Applicants should therefore understand that this is not simply a general graduate scholarship or academic fellowship.

Successful participants will be expected to engage with teaching, classroom leadership, professional development and community service.

The requirement to be flexible about school placement is particularly important for applicants who may be considering the programme from outside the location where they currently live.

Conclusion

The Teach For Uganda STEM Fellowship 2026 provides a structured pathway for young women with STEM backgrounds to enter secondary education, develop teaching and leadership skills, and contribute to improving STEM learning in Uganda.

The fellowship combines classroom placement with training, coaching, professional development and a fully funded one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education. It also places a strong emphasis on girls’ participation in STEM by creating opportunities for women to become teachers, mentors and role models.

As a pilot under the Leaders in Teaching Program, the initiative also has a broader systems-level purpose. Teach For Uganda aims to learn from the fellowship and use evidence from the programme to strengthen the teacher pipeline and inform future approaches to secondary STEM education.

For eligible candidates who are passionate about education equity, STEM, leadership and community change, the fellowship provides an opportunity to develop professionally while contributing directly to Uganda’s education sector.

Prospective applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements and submit their application through the official application portal when applications are open. The programme states that participation and all associated services are free of charge.

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