The Pan African High Level Conference on Education (PACE) 2018, held in Nairobi Kenya under the theme “Bridging Continental and global education frameworks for the African We Want” brought together technocrats, experts and stakeholders in the field of education. The high level conference organized by UNESCO and the Government of Kenya in partnership with the African Union and other partners was an opportunity to review progress made, access challenges and lessons learned in achieving the SDG 4 and the CESA 2016-2025. 

The three-day meeting involved technical sessions and a ministerial meeting. The parallel session of the technical meeting addressed a wide array of thematic areas ranging from teaching and learning, inclusion and gender equality, digital technologies in education, adequate skills for life and young people, STEM, Role of education in the development of 21st century African economies, Increasing innovative investment in education as a continuum, Improving monitoring and evaluation of national Plans, SDG4 & CESA16‐25, Promoting accountability of Education, Strengthening coordination partnerships at national, level and Strengthening coordination partnerships and monitoring at regional and continental levels.

IICBA’s participation in the meeting was also marked by hosting the first meeting of the Teacher Development Cluster. The cluster led by Education International, and coordinated by UNESCO IICBA brought together a wide range of stakeholders; AUC, Member states, Regional Economic Commissions (RECs)Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Varkey Foundation, Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), CAFOR, TSC Kenya, ETA, FinnChurch Aid, VIVIACIZ, KNUT, UNESCO field offices, to raise awareness on the Teacher Development Cluster activities, formalize the Teacher Development Cluster operational mechanisms, adopt the Teacher Development Work Plan, and prioritize the Teacher Training, Working and Living Conditions” study recommendations at the agenda of African Education Ministries. 

Hon. Wilson Sossion, the President for Education International Africa and Secretary General of the Kenyan National Union of Teachers (KNUT) delivered the opening remarks. Dr Yumiko Yokozeki, Director UNESCO IICBA set the scene for the meeting, setting the pace for Dr Beatrice Njenga, Head of Division Education Division, African Union Commission (AUC) to elaborate on the Agenda 2063 and the CESA 2016-2025, African rationale for investments in Education. 

Ms. Assibi Napoe the Chief Regional Coordinator Education International gave the background on the Teacher Cluster and Mr. Mame Omar Diop, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO IICBA discussed the cluster’s priorities and possible activities. Professor Steve Nwokeocha, the Executive Director of the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), gave the history of Pan African Conference on Teacher Education and Development.

To initiate the evaluation of the cluster’s activities and priorities Dr. Njenga led the process by reviewing the outcomes of the 2nd Specialized Technical Committee on Education held in Cairo Egypt, in 2017. This process helped participants to understand the rationale for the clusters activities and priorities. 

Mr. Mame Omar Diop, steered the meeting participants to review identified activities, and propose new activities, to identify the key institutions and member-states to lead the activities. 

Partners made input into the clusters activities and priorities as well as the cluster’s engagement with other clusters of the CESA 2016-2025. One of the key recommendations was to follow up on the STC outcomes and re-evaluate PACTED’s role in operationalizing the cluster. The discussion going forward was instrumental Mr. Mame Omar Diop’s review of the meeting outcomes and guiding the clusters activities and priorities. 

To continue the engagement, the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), will be holding the 7th AFTRA Teaching and Learning in Africa Conference and 9th roundtable from the 14th -19th of May, 2018, in Abuja, Nigeria. The outcomes of the Teacher Development Cluster Meeting will also be raised in at the meeting in Abuja