Africa Education ministers to Attend Conference in Kenya
By Staff writer
Nairobi--- Education ministers from Africa will assemble from Tuesday May 10, gather to attend a three-day Conference of Ministers of Education of the African Union (COMEDAF IV) in Nairobi.
Key in the Agenda is to consider the key policy documents of the Pan African University, which is to be “a flagship institution of higher education” to revitalise higher education and research in Africa. The meeting is also to finalize details on setting up of a new university in Kenya to handle the continent’s science and technology training.
The conference will commence with the meeting of Senior Officials (Steering Committee Meeting) for the COMEDAF 1V Bureau (Meeting of Ministers).
The second day will be devoted to First Extra-Ordinary Session of COMEDAF IV (Meeting of Senior Officials), who will be preparing agenda for the Ministers meeting of the 13th May, 2011.
The Session will also consider the Arusha Convention/Regional Convention for the mutual recognition of Degrees and Qualifications.
COMEDAF IV will deliberate on statutes of the university, research policies, curriculum, develop an African accreditation procedure as well as host agreement with Kenya.
At the moment, Kenyan university, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has been selected as the hub of the Pan African University (PAU), which will start offering degree programmes in September this year.
PAU’s other satellite campuses will be in South Africa (to teach space science), Cameroon (governance and social sciences) and Nigeria (earth and life sciences).
Kenya's Higher Education Permanent Secretary Crispus Kiamba said the setting up of PAU would see students from across the globe come to Kenya to study.
It will also benefit university staffers who will receive financial aid to pursue research and other post-graduate studies.
“This is good news for Kenya to host the PAU, and JKUAT to be recognised to that level,” he said during a phone interview.
According to the AU’S commissioner for human resources, Prof Jean-Pierre Ezin, the need to involve young people in science and technology was critical as it was the basis of growth and development in the continent.
“Efficiency and the development of Africa depend on youth empowerment, and the youth need education in various ways and forms, so that they contribute to the development process.”
COMEDAF IV will develop the key policy documents to be considered by the July 2011 AU Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will also approve funding for the university.
The planning committee said that it will need about $8.4 million (Sh700 million) to roll out degree programmes in the JKUAT hub.
The ministers will also be advocating increased levels of domestic spending on education.
Kenya’s Education minister Sam Ongeri, who is also the chair of COMEDAF IV, said the rate should stand at six per cent of the gross domestic product, or 20 per cent of public expenditure.
“The role of higher education as a major driver of social and economic development is even more urgent and crucial for Africa as it lags behind in provision of the most basic needs,” he said.
It is hoped that PAU will greatly boost the production and retention of high level human resources and quality knowledge outputs.
Besides promoting science and technology, PAU shall also link scientific research to economic development in the region.
According to the Union, approximately 20,000 dons leave African universities annually, the single most factor which has led to poor quality in the institutions.
COMEDAF is the African Union’s statutory body that articulates Africa’s collective vision and priorities in education.
Currently, this collective vision is embodied in the Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006–2015).
Areas of focus are Gender and Culture; Education Management Information Systems; Higher Education and Teacher Development.
Others are Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Materials.