African Education Union Leaders Participate in Empowering ICT Workshop for Effective Advocacy Campaigns

In a bid to foster positive change within the education union movement in Africa , selected education union leaders who are at the forefront of championing educational reforms and improving the quality of education across the African continent recently gathered for a three-day Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) workshop. It took place from 23rd to 25th October at the Mensvic Hotel, Accra-Ghana. The event aimed at equipping educators with the necessary skills to design compelling campaign messages, leverage social media tools, understand stakeholders within the education system , and uphold digital rights and privacy. The workshop was organized under the auspices of the Pan African Teachers Centre (PATC), the professional development arm of Education International Africa (EIA), with financial support from the Australian Education Union (AEU).
 
In his opening remarks, the Regional Director of Education International Africa, Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, pointed out that ICTs can play a crucial role in driving union research, advocacy, campaigns, and social and policy dialogue. He highlighted that digital technologies and the media can be powerful tool  for  informing our members, education stakeholders, and the public. 
 
'Technology is here to stay. As educators, we need to move from the traditional chalk and talk to the modern touch and teach! As education unions, we need to unleash the power of technology to recruit new members, organize, and mobilize. But we also need to expose, challenge, and mitigate the risks associated with technology”, he stated. Dr. Sinyolo, furthermore, called for the ethical use of AI and digital technologies and their stringent regulation to prevent harm to students, teachers, and education support personnel  and encouraged the participants to read EI’s protocol on ICT. 
 
EIA used the occasion to launch a regional Communications Network (ComNet). During the launch of EI Africa ComNet, Dr. Sinyolo underlined that the Network provides an opportunity to learn from one another, to share and develop strategies for strengthening our union advocacy, campaigns, and communications. He said that the objectives of the ComNet were to provide a platform for EI and member organizations in Africa to share information about EI and member organizations’ programs and activities; to develop and sharpen advocacy, lobbying, campaigning, and communication strategies for quality public education for all in Africa; to drive the Go Public! Fund Education campaign in Africa and support and augment the communication efforts of the EI Africa Regional Office.
 
A vital aspect covered in the workshop was the effective use of social media tools for advocacy campaigns. Recognizing the power of digital platforms in mobilizing support and raising awareness, participants discovered how to leverage social media to amplify their messages and engage a broader audience. They learned about successful digital campaigns from around the world and explored practical techniques to harness the potential of social media platforms.
 
Furthermore, the workshop provided insights into the importance of stakeholder analysis within the education sector. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the diverse actors involved in the education sector, including government agencies, policymakers, parents, students, and community leaders. By identifying and engaging these stakeholders effectively, education union leaders can forge strategic partnerships and drive meaningful change within their countries.
 
In his closing remarks, Dr. Dennis Sinyolo appealed to the participants to fully utilize the knowledge gained during the workshop to engineer the needed transformation within their respective unions and countries. “Colleagues, the end of this workshop is not the end, but the beginning. The beginning of the great work ahead. Let us continue to introspect, reflect, and develop measures to renew, strengthen, and reenergize our unions and the teacher trade union movement in Africa. Let us move towards the organizing model by unleashing the power of technology to inform, organize, and mobilize our members”, he charged the participants. 
 
The workshop concluded with participants expressing their enthusiasm and gratitude for the invaluable knowledge gained during the three-day event. Equipped with enhanced skills and a deeper understanding of effective advocacy strategies, the education union leaders returned to their respective countries, ready to drive positive change within the education sector.

[Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:04:00 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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