IGAD ministers call for review of regional education policy

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministers in Charge of Education have called upon the eight member states to review regional education policy framework.

The ministers also want IGAD to update the Technical and Vocation Education Training Strategy for the region to facilitate training, capacity building, knowledge and experience sharing among member states towards the Implementation of the IGAD Qualification Framework.

This was revealed during the 4th Ministers conference on Education for All, held in Entebbe, Uganda.

Mme Fathia Alwan, director of health and social development on behalf of the Executive Secretary of IGAD expressed IGAD's gratitude to the member states and Development partners towards the adoption of the IGAD Qualifications Framework (IGADQF) whose benefits will be for al.

"We are also supporting the development of comprehensive National Qualifications Frameworks in Member States to ensure effective implementation," Mme Fathia said.

"We must prioritise education and address the needs of children affected by conflicts, climate change, and other emergencies through a regional approach."

According to Uganda's Minister of Education and Sports Hon Janet Kataaha Museveni who was represented by Sports minister Peter Ogwang, who underscored the importance of the review to help address the educational needs of the refugees as well as include them into the national education system in Uganda and those of other IGAD Member States.

"Since the adoption of the Djibouti Declaration in 2017, Uganda has continued to play a proactive role in implementing that Declaration," he said.

"Uganda takes pride in being the first IGAD Member State to develop the multi year Education Response Plan (ERP) for refugees and host communities to translate the commitments we made in Djibouti into action."

"We now have the second ERP that is being rolled out to improve access to education for crisis affected learners, " said Minister Ogwang.

Minister Ogwang added that for this long awaited desire to be achieved, there is need for strong collaboration amongst stakeholders.

"Together, we have explored avenues for collaboration, shared best practices, and committed to forging stronger bonds of cooperation in the realm of education. Our shared vision of a region where every individual has access to quality education, regardless of their background, remains steadfast," he emphasized.

The IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF) offers important insights that are relevant to the region's National Qualifications Framework which are vital for quality outcomes, regional mobility, comparability and recognition of qualifications as well as access to education, employment opportunities.

The IGAD Ministers in charge of Education in IGAD region - in a communique that was issued on May 30 in Entebbe - reiterated their commitment to accelerating access to inclusive and quality education for all with special focus on refugees, returnees, IDPs and host communities.

The Ministers also reaffirmed their collective responsibility to ensure every refugee, returnee and host community learners in a particular girls have access to quality education in a safe learning environment within the IGAD region.

They were also concerned by the growing disconnect between education, skills and labor market needs and the widening gap thus emphasizing the importance of the Regional Qualifications Frameworks to enhance access to quality education for girls, women and other vulnerable groups including people living with disabilities.

They made further commitments to creating mechanisms for mutual recognition and equation of qualifications and micro-credentials as well as increased domestic funding for education with sustainable financing arrangements across the IGAD region