IBT Institute of Basic Technology

2,000+

Students Mentored

10+

Partner Schools

5

STEAM Labs

10+

Years of Impact

OUR MISSION

The Institute of Basic Technology (IBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to transforming education in under-resourced communities through Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). What began as a hands-on lab model in Liberia, West Africa has evolved into an AI-powered educational platform — built on over 8 years of real classroom experience — designed to empower teachers and students across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Our goal remains what it has always been: ensure that every child, regardless of their economic circumstances, has access to a quality education. Today, we pursue that goal not just through physical labs, but through intelligent tools that multiply the reach and impact of every teacher we support.

Teacher Pehpeh

Not adapted for Africa. Built from it.

In Liberia, Pehpeh — the word for pepper — named the teachers who demanded your best because they believed in you. That spirit is what we built.

Every AI teaching tool on the market was designed somewhere else and localised for Africa as an afterthought. Teacher Pehpeh is different. Trained on eight years of locally generated Liberian classroom data — and built on IBT's predictive teaching model — it generates curriculum-aligned content that actually reflects the classrooms it serves.

Built for the teacher who stays late.
Built for the school that refuses to make excuses.

  • Instant Lesson Planning — WASSCE-aligned plans generated in seconds, so teachers spend their time where it matters: in front of students.
  • Differentiated by Home Reality — Assignments and feedback that account for a student's family size, home study time, and available resources. Because not every child walks home to a quiet desk.
  • Three AI Models, One Answer — ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini run simultaneously. The best response wins. No switching between apps, no wasted time.
  • Early Warning, Not Late Regret — IBT's predictive model flags at-risk students before the exam reveals the problem. Teachers act early. Schools stop losing students they could have saved.
  • Offline-Ready — WASSCE practice tests and adaptive quizzes work without internet. Because a slow connection should never slow a student down.
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WHAT WE DO

IBT students at computers in Liberia

STEAM Labs

We operate hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math labs serving high schools in Liberia — giving students access to equipment, mentors, and real-world skills their schools cannot provide.

IBT students in pink uniforms collaborating on a tablet

Teacher Pehpeh — AI Built for This Classroom

Built on eight years of locally generated Liberian classroom data, Teacher Pehpeh generates curriculum-aligned content that reflects the classrooms it actually serves — not the classrooms it was adapted to. Lesson plans, parent letters, WASSCE prep, differentiated assignments, and at-risk student flags. All of it, instantly. All of it, grounded in context that generic AI cannot replicate.

Student Academic Forecast: Predictive Teaching Model — IBT Research Data

Predictive Teaching Model

IBT pioneered a data-driven teaching model that uses measurable indicators to predict and improve student learning outcomes — helping schools identify who needs support before they fall behind.

LATEST NEWS

February 2026
Teacher Pehpeh — AI-Powered Teaching Support, Built for Liberia from the Ground Up

Not an imported tool with African examples bolted on. Teacher Pehpeh is built from eight years of locally generated Liberian classroom data — delivering WASSCE-aligned content, at-risk student flags, and offline-ready practice, instantly.

Read More →
March 2025
IBT & VCU Partner to Transform Education in Liberia with AI!

The Institute of Basic Technology and Virginia Commonwealth University announce a groundbreaking partnership — funded by the VCU Department of Sociology — to pilot Teacher Pehpeh in schools across Monrovia and Nimba County, equipping educators with AI tools tailored to Liberia's educational context.

Read More →
February 2023
BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer — IBT Recognized for STEM Impact

Rodney Bollie accepted the BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer award on February 16, 2023, for his work mentoring over 2,000 students from Liberian high schools.

Read More →
HIGHLIGHT OF OUR WORK

Teacher Pehpeh — AI-Powered Teaching Support, Built for Liberia from the Ground Up

The Institute of Basic Technology officially launches Teacher Pehpeh — a culturally grounded generative AI platform built from eight years of locally generated classroom data in Liberia, West Africa. Not an imported tool with African examples bolted on. An original.

🌶 What It Does
  • Generates WASSCE-aligned lesson plans instantly
  • Produces differentiated assignments calibrated to each student's home circumstances
  • Drafts parent communication letters in seconds
  • Runs ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini simultaneously — returning the best response
  • Flags at-risk students early using IBT's predictive teaching model
  • Delivers adaptive WASSCE and BECE practice offline — no internet required
🎯 Who It's For
  • Secondary school teachers in under-resourced communities
  • School proprietors and administrators seeking measurable results
  • NGOs and donors investing in scalable, evidence-based education technology
  • Any educator who needs intelligent, context-aware AI support without the generic noise
✨ Why It's Different

Teacher Pehpeh was not built in Silicon Valley and then tested in Monrovia. It was built from Monrovia — by educators with eight years of on-the-ground data, a proven predictive teaching model, and a clear-eyed view of what resource-scarce classrooms actually need. Context is not a feature. It is the foundation.

Learn more about the Teaching Model →

IBT & VCU Partner to Transform Education in Liberia with AI

The Institute of Basic Technology (IBT) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) are excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership to launch an AI-powered pilot project aimed at enhancing classroom learning in Liberia, funded by the VCU Department of Sociology.

🏫 What's in Store for Teachers
  • Free intensive, hands-on training to integrate AI into teaching
  • Devices preloaded with Teacher Pehpeh for seamless classroom use
  • AI-powered lesson planning & personalized instruction tailored to students' socio-demographic backgrounds
  • Local knowledge integration, ensuring AI complements Liberia's educational context
  • Innovative teaching strategies empowering educators to engage students in new ways
📊 Research & Impact
  • Mixed-method study combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys
  • Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of AI in classrooms
  • Gathering insights to refine and scale AI-driven learning across Liberia
✨ Why This Matters

AI isn't replacing teachers — it's empowering them. With Teacher Pehpeh, educators gain access to AI-assisted lesson planning, real-time student support, and culturally relevant teaching tools that bridge gaps and enhance the classroom experience.

Thanks to Dr. Jamie Cage and the VCU Department of Sociology's support, IBT is taking a bold step toward reshaping education in Liberia with AI-powered solutions.

BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer — IBT Recognized for STEM Impact

On February 16, 2023, Rodney Bollie was honored with the BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award — one of the most prestigious recognitions in STEM — for his decade of work mentoring over 2,000 students from Liberian high schools.

🏆 About the Award
  • Presented at the BEYA STEM Conference
  • Recognizes trailblazers in science, technology, and education
  • One of the most prestigious STEM honours in the United States
  • Awarded for sustained community impact and mentorship
🎓 The Impact Behind the Award
  • 2,000+ Liberian students mentored
  • 10+ partner high schools across Monrovia
  • Programs in Python, networking, biology, and drones
  • Built from a personal mission after surviving Liberia's civil war
📰 Coverage

MITRE featured Rodney's story — from escaping civil war to building IBT — as an impact story on their platform.

Read the MITRE feature →

OUR STORY

IBT was born from a deeply personal mission. Co-founders Rodney and Dr. Sylvia Bollie — both Liberian-Americans who lived through the country's devastating civil war — saw firsthand what 13 years of conflict had done to the educational system. In 2007, Sylvia volunteered teaching Biology at the University of Liberia and led a campaign to ship thousands of textbooks to the country. By 2013, they were providing scholarships and direct mentorship to high school students striving for academic excellence.

The crisis point came when 25,000 students failed the University of Liberia entrance exams in a single year. That moment made clear that donations alone would not fix a broken system. IBT was formally incorporated in 2015, and by 2017 the first STEAM lab was open in Sinkor, Monrovia. Since then, IBT has mentored over 2,000 students across 10+ schools — introducing them to Python programming, computer networking, drones, and biology — earning a BEYA Science Spectrum Trailblazer award on February 16, 2023, in recognition of that impact.

What IBT learned from nearly a decade of running labs changed how we think about education. The most powerful variable isn't equipment — it's the teacher. An empowered, well-supported teacher multiplies outcomes for every student in the room. That insight drove us to build Teacher Pehpeh: an AI assistant designed to give every teacher — even in the most under-resourced school — the tools, content, and support they need to thrive.

Today IBT operates at the intersection of STEAM education, artificial intelligence, and community development — scaling a proven model from Liberia to reach classrooms across Sub-Saharan Africa and the broader African diaspora.

Our Teaching Model Lab Tour

Hear the Research in Their Own Words

Our podcast Contextualizing STEM Education in Liberia, West Africa features the students, teachers, and professionals at the heart of this work — including episodes on predicting learning outcomes with algorithms, trauma in education, rural access to STEM, and more.

  Listen Now

GALLERY

A visual record of IBT's work — in classrooms, labs, and communities across Liberia.