Event Highlights: Regional Competence Enhancement Workshop on Teacher CPD and Teaching Councils in Zambia
From 16 to 20 June, UNESCO IICBA through the GPE KIX Africa 19 Hub with local partners in Zambia including the Ministry of Education, convened a regional workshop on Competence Enhancement and Experiential Learning for teacher professional development and management. The event, held in Lusaka, brought together over 50 senior education officials, from the 8 African nations of Eritrea, Lesotho, Ghana, Malawi, South Sudan, Zanzibar, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, and the African Union. The gathering was focused on strengthening teacher Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and teaching council frameworks in the region.
Credit: UNESCO IICBA | Visit to the Teaching Council of Zambia.
The Zambian Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima kicked off the workshop on day 1, reiterating Zambia's dedication to investing in teacher capacity building and fortifying the teaching profession's governance structure.
"This workshop is a catalyst for collaborative learning and development, enabling us to construct robust, context-sensitive education systems," he said. "Teachers need ongoing skill upgrades, and CPD is an essential component, not an indulgence." - Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima, Zambia
The Minister praised the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX), a joint venture with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for backing cutting-edge initiatives to enhance teacher effectiveness across Africa. He accentuated that CPD frameworks should be competency-driven, aligned with national objectives, and integrated into teacher career advancement to promote professionalism and accountability.
Credit: UNESCO IICBA | Experiential learning visit to Zambia Institute of Special Education to learn how CPDs are integrated in pre service teacher education.
UNICEF's Chief of Education, Ms. Katharina Wuppinger, representing the organization, outlined UNICEF's contributions to the KIX Africa 19 Hub. These include spearheading regional initiatives on early childhood education, gender equality, and inclusive education.
"The region faces significant challenges, including a substantial shortage of over 5 million trained educators," Ms. Wuppinger observed. "However, through the GPE KIX Africa 19 hub and collaborative reform endeavors, we are witnessing the impact of aligned policy, evidence, and innovation." – Katharina Wuppinger, UNICEF's Chief of Education
Over the course of the event, participants actively shared their experiences on improving Continuous professional development (CPD) programs for teachers from policy to the school/college level; the link of CPDs on teacher motivation, licensing and accreditation through the use of Teacher Management Information Systems; as well as the establishment and management of functional teacher councils across the continent. Through peer learning sessions, field visits to schools to observe local practices and practical sessions on TMIS, the participants gained helpful insights to develop strategies to guide the next steps towards improving CPDs in the region.
Credit: UNESCO IICBA | School visit to Chudleigh House School in Lusaka, Zambia.
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Contents originally posted on Buzz TV.
