Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki and Mr. Virgilio Juvane, respectively Director and Programme Coordinator of IICBA, attended the last AU STC-EST meeting held from 21-23 October 2017 in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016-2025) in Member States. In its capacity of Coordinator of the CESA Teacher Development Cluster, IICBA presented at the Experts meeting a progress report on Cluster’s related activities. The IICBA’s submission on Teacher Development activities was subsequently tabled and endorsed by Ministers of Education Science and Technology.

IICBA also participated at a specific meeting on Pan-African Conference on Teacher Development (PACTED), convened by the AUC to address teacher development issues in the context of CESA. At this meeting, IICBA was invited to present two documents: a report on CESA Teacher Development Cluster and a roadmap specifying key steps and actions towards the full operationalization of the Cluster. The presentation of the documents was well received and elicited interesting reactions from the audience formed up by Education Ministers and Senior Officials from Member States and education partners.

The thoughtful debates held around Teacher Development – the pillar one of CESA 2015-2025 – stressed the fundamental roles that training, professional development and support of teachers are  due to play in order to build and reinforce teacher capabilities to enhance students’ learning achievements in African classrooms.