STEPS — AI-Assisted Science Textbooks Scale to 101 Emmanuel Community Schools in DR Congo

Science teaching in many DR Congo primary schools is hampered by a shortage of curriculum-aligned, locally relevant textbooks and by limited teacher subject-matter confidence.

Close the textbook gap using a combination of Open Educational Resources and generative AI, under GPE KIX's STEPS project (2021–2024), funded with IDRC and coordinated through the KIX Africa 21 Hub.

AI tools (ChatGPT and Anthropic models) were given detailed, curriculum-referenced prompts to draft initial lesson content, suggest culturally relevant examples, and translate materials from English to French; every AI-generated output was then reviewed and adapted by subject-matter experts and local educators before use in the classroom. The project produced 28 science textbooks and accompanying workbooks across Benin, Cameroon and DR Congo, and shifted teacher training from costly five-day external workshops to lower-cost, school-based sessions run by experienced local educators.

In DR Congo, implementing partner Emmanuel Community Schools has committed to expanding use of the STEPS materials to all 101 of its schools. Across the three participating countries, 94% of teachers surveyed reported increased confidence teaching science, and 80% said they intended to keep using the STEPS materials after the project's external support ended. Benin's Ministry of Education initiated formal approval procedures for the material and Cameroon's Baptist Convention committed to systemwide rollout across its school network.

The reported gains are based on teacher self-report surveys rather than independent student assessment data, and student learning-outcome evidence has not yet been published, so the practice should be read as strong evidence of content-production efficiency and teacher buy-in rather than proven learning impact.