September 21, 2018

UNESCO-IICBA and the education division of the African Union Commission (AUC) held a workshop for the technical consultation on the AU continental teacher mobility, motivation and qualification framework and teacher prize on the 5th and 6th September 2018. A number of stakeholders were in attendance at the workshop, including the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), African Early Childhood Network (AFECN), Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), UNICEF, the Ministry of Education of South Africa for Higher Education and Training and the Ministry of Education of Kenya Teacher Education Department, among others.   The workshop was chaired by Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae, the Senior Education Expert at the AUC and Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki, Director of UNESCO -IICBA.

Over the two days, discussions were facilitated among stakeholders on the creation of a continental teacher qualification framework, on how the AUC can contribute to teacher motivation though a continental teacher prize and on a continental teacher mobility protocol that would allow teachers to keep their qualifications as they migrate within Africa.

The workshop included presentations from different experts that helped create conversation on teacher qualifications, motivation and mobility.  The first day of the workshop, Professor Steve Nwokeocha, Executive Director of Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), gave a presentation on the proposal for the development of a continental teacher qualification framework. The presentation gave advice on what should be considered when creating a qualification framework. The second day of the workshop included a presentation by Ms. Carolyne Tumuhimbise from the International Organization of Migration on migration as a tool for development and labor migration within the education sector. The rest of the second day was filled with presentations on the continental teacher mobility protocol from Dr. Binyam Sisay and Ononuju Okwaragoma from UNESCO-IICBA and from Professor Steve on the role of teaching regulatory bodies in such a protocol. Dr. James Keevy and John Adotevi from JET Education Services facilitated the discussion.

The presentations were informative and resulted in productive discussions among stakeholders. The workshop concluded with a list of agreed on recommendations and action points in regards to the qualification framework, teacher prize and mobility protocol to move these initiatives forward.  

Related Presentations:
Strengthening the linkages-  AU Context

UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa

Continental Teacher Mobility Protocol

Continental Teacher Qualification Framework and Standards and Guidelines for the Teaching Profession