Capacity Building Workshop: Advocating for Quality Education and Teacher Investment in Zambia

At a crucial meeting aimed at reshaping education in Africa, the Regional Director of Education International Africa (EI Africa), Dr. Sinyolo, engaged union leaders during a capacity-building workshop in Zambia. He highlighted the pressing need for quality education and the challenges faced by millions of children across Africa, especially in the context of limited resources. 
 
The workshop centred on the "Go Public! Fund Education" campaign, which advocates for increased investment in public education and the empowerment of teachers to guarantee that every child has access to a quality learning environment. It was attended by senior union leaders and staff from the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) and the Basic Education Teachers’ Union of Zambia (BETUZ).
 
Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, alongside EI Africa’s Campaigns and Communication officer, Kojo Addo, highlighted the fundamental human right to quality education, referencing key international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “Despite these commitments, the right to quality education for all remains a distant goal for millions in Africa,” the Director stated, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts as exacerbating factors for educational exclusion.
 
The Director noted alarming statistics from UNESCO, revealing that over 250 million children, adolescents, and youth are currently out of school, with a pressing need for 44 million new teachers by 2030 to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4. The region faces severe challenges, including a shortage of qualified teachers, with only 57% of pre-primary and 60% of primary and secondary teachers being qualified, compared to higher percentages in other regions.
 
The workshop also addressed the Recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, which aims to improve teacher standards and working conditions. Key recommendations include establishing professional teaching standards, ensuring competitive salaries, and prioritizing teacher well-being.
 
In closing, the Regional Director urged attendees to embrace modern teaching methodologies, leverage technology, and recognize the irreplaceable role of teachers. “Artificial Intelligence can enhance education, but it cannot replace the human touch that educators provide,” they asserted.
 
As Zambia prepares to launch the Go Public! Fund Education campaign in 2025, leaders are encouraged to collaborate and advocate for systemic changes that ensure inclusive and equitable education for all. This workshop marks a pivotal step towards addressing the ongoing educational challenges in Zambia and across Africa, reaffirming the commitment to make quality education a reality for every child.
 

[Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:00:49 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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