Maureen Karamagi: Giving young students the education of the future

For a long time, Uganda’s educational landscape has heavily relied on rote learning, which encourages memorisation over critical thinking.

The curricula, often stagnant and unchanging, fail to evolve with the times, stifling the natural growth of creativity and curiosity among students.

This rigid approach not only limits the depth of understanding but also hinders a learner’s ability to think creatively and explore ideas beyond the narrow confines of their prescribed education.

As a result, students find themselves trapped in an imaginary box, struggling to break free and engage fully with the world around them.

However, the disruptor in Maureen Ayebare Karamagi is igniting a revolution.

The CEO and co-founder of African School of Innovations Science and Technology (ASIST) / E 2 Young Engineers Uganda, is not just teaching children Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM Education) and robotics; she is molding the future, one brilliant mind at a time.

With over 20 years of management experience and over nine years in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Education), Karamagi has built a profile that speaks for itself.

Her journey, characterised by vision and unwavering dedication, began in 2015.

Together with her husband – Arinaitwe Rugyendo – Karamagi says: “I had a burning idea to introduce an enrichment form of education to the rote learning prevalent in our school system”.

“We envisioned a programme centred on students, not teachers, to foster problem-solving skills, creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and science orientation in children,” she explains. 

The transition from just an idea to a thriving enterprise was seamless, driven by Karamagi’s innate leadership , her husband’s support , that of their partners Locus and Caroline and the entire ASIST Team.

“My husband is a journalist who deeply loves his career,” she says. “In 2016, he entrusted me to lead, recognising my competence and allowing me to take the helm.” 

A unique programme  

E2 Young Engineers pioneered a STEM Education approach that introduces STEM skills to children as young as four years.

The programme’s unique alignment with the cognitive development of children, progressing through regimented age brackets up to 17 years and beyond, ensures a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

“Each stage builds on the previous one using a spiral learning method. By employing an edutainment model, we make breaking down complex scientific concepts fun and engaging,” she says.

The hurdles

However, Karamagi’s journey has not been without challenges.

First, she says, it has been difficult to change an entrenched mindset that rotates around rote learning.

This, she notes, presents logistical hurdles of expanding teaching spaces.

“Ugandan parents, schools, and even institutions are entrenched in rote learning.

Funding has also been a major hurdle, our learning materials are very costly,” she admits.

Despite such challenges, Karamagi is determined to push up to the last end, noting that she will “continue to build awareness and many stakeholders have been enlightened. We are hopeful for the future.” 

There is hope

She has also built strategic partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, National Enterprise Corporation, EATON Corporation US, Innovation First International, WhalesBot China and Marine Technology Society US, among others.

Other partnerships have come through grants from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the NSSF Hi-Innovator program.

Over the years, Karamagi has pushed all stops to achieve certain milestones – a key inspiration that she hangs on when challenges arrive.

“My favourite moments are when the children successfully design, build, programme, and motorise projects after intense effort and focus. Watching our students achieve so much, putting what they learn in class to practice is indeed rewarding for me,” she says. 

As a result, she has seen her students win accolades both at national and international competitions, including championship wins in China, USA and regional victories in Africa.

The programme’s design, that is built around play-based learning, ensures that children, regardless of background or skill, can thrive.

“To a child, it feels like play, but to a parent, it fosters critical thinking and higher-order learning,” Karamagi says. “It’s experiential and curiosity-driven, requiring no excessive sophistication while sparking critical thinking and curiosity.”

Early STEM education exposure, she says, shapes a child’s future by fostering problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

“Our mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators, problem-solvers, creators, and critical thinkers, a scientific community capable of addressing pressing issues,” she says.

Her vision extends beyond individual success, aligning with Uganda’s broader aspirations for technological advancement in key areas such as robotics and tech education to prepare children for the 4th and 5th industrial revolutions that emphasise a proper understanding of AI, machine learning, quantum computing, and automation.

Thus, E2 Young engineers continues to nurture skills necessary to thrive in a landscape that has been overtaken by technology.

Her students have developed a number of projects including smart brooders for poultry farmers, and marine robots for cleaning water bodies, among others.

“Our children have developed remarkable projects,” Karamagi says, “Many of the projects are still in their beta stages but showcase the incredible potential of young minds.”

Finding balance

However, amid all this, Karamagi has had to find a balance between her demanding career with personal life by “setting clear boundaries between professional and personal time.”.

She wakes up at 5am, does her devotion “because my life stands on God and His guidance” . She has been mentored by her aunties – Ruth and Odeth – who have taught her through the word of God to live a fulfilling life.

Her advice to future education leaders is rooted in purpose and passion.

“Lead with purpose and passion. Empower your team and invest in it. Whenever change happens, try to adapt. But above all, take care of yourself, and keep inspiring innovation wherever you go.” she says.