First Regional Meeting of the UNESCO-initiated Basic Education in Africa Programme (BEAP)

Banjul, The Gambia - 21 to 25 April 2008 The First Regional Meeting of the BEAP will be held from 21 to 25 April 2008 in Banjul, The Gambia. One of the aims of the BEAP pilot phase is to expand and democratize basic education in terms of access and outcomes, mainly through supporting processes of competency-based curriculum change and development. The Gambia, Rwanda and Ethiopia have been selected as initial pilot countries for the BEAP implementation. After a first review and contextual scan, the BEAP Steering Committee will assist the pilot country teams in performing SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analyses which will then form the basis for the participatory composition of the BEAP implementation plans. The BEAP aims to progressively increase the number of pilot countries in Africa. The main objectives of the meeting will be, among others, to:

1. Get the commitment of relevant stakeholders in the successful expansion and democratisation of basic education in the pilot countries;
2. Take cognizance of the progress having been made in the expansion and democratisation of basic education in the pilot countries;
3. Discuss the difficulties and identify key challenges in implementing the policies formulated in the National Education Strategic Plans;
4. Provide opportunities for all stakeholders to describe their needs and priorities;
5. Inform all stakeholders in the pilot countries of how UNESCO and other international partners can assist them in contributing to removing the bottlenecks and fill the gaps preventing a proper implementation of the expansion and democratisation of basic education;
6. Consult with stakeholder groups on how the BEAP can address priorities.
   The Basic Education in Africa Programme (BEAP) is initiated jointly by the UNESCO Division for the Promotion of Basic Education, UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA) and IBE.

For more information about UNESCO’s role in education, see the UNESCO Education Programme website. Related Document:

• Information Paper