Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) Journal Volume 2, December 2017
The African Union Heads of State and Government, during their Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session on 31st January 2016 in Addis Ababa, adopted the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) as the framework for transforming education and training systems in Africa, as called for in Agenda 2063. Since then, much has been done by stakeholders to popularize CESA and develop implementable plans, through the CESA Thematic Clusters. It gives me much pleasure to express appreciation to the Member States, RECs and Education Development Agencies who have taken up ownership of this collective agenda.
This bi-annual CESA Journal provides the platform to engage all stakeholders and highlight reflections, debates, activities and innovative interventions for strengtheningeducation and training towards the “Africa We Want”. I take this opportunity toextend an open invitation to participate in CESA activities, join existing Clusters and create new CESA Clusters as well. Since the publication of the last CESA Journal, H.E. Dr Martial De Paul Ikounga ended his mandate as HRST Commissioner. I wish him well in his next endeavor and extend gratitude to him for the foundation he has laid in the Department.
The last session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology held in Cairo, Egypt from the 21st–23rd of October, 2017 commended progress made in CESA implementation, and took decisions on a range of matters,including Girls and Women’s Education, School Feeding, the Pan African Universityas well as African Writers and Teacher Development. They also called forestablishment of the African Union Teachers’ Prize. I look forward to working withyou to develop the modus operandi for this important instrument for celebrating and rewarding commited teachers, while strengthening professionalization of teaching to ensure quality education and training.
A gender mainstreaming guideline for CESA has been developed by FAWE in collaboration with AU-CIEFFA, which will ensure that in all CESA activites, no one shall be left behind on the basis of gender. The CESA Indicators manual has been finalized by AU-IPED in collaboration with ADEA and will be available for implementation by the end of the 1st quarter 2018. Both instruments were validated with input from Member States RECs and a wide range of stakeholders.
This first semester of 2018, many exciting activities are already scheduled that will have far reaching impact across the education landscape. These include capacity assessment and capacity building of Member States in EMIS, experience sharing around ICT and skills training for youth empowerment, development of programmes for the flagship Pan African Virtual and E University, and promotion of STEM education. We shall celebrate the 3rd Africa Day of School Feeding in Zimbabwe from 27th February to 1st March 2018. We are happy to work with UNESCO on the Pan African Conference to be held in Kenya in April 2018, on alignment of the Global Education 2030 and the CESA. A major event is scheduled on Innovating Education, which will provide a market place for 21st century ideas and instruments for promoting access, enhancing education delivery, learning and school safety among other innovations.
Significantly, we extend appreciation to Member States and the commission for their efforts to implement CESA 16-25. We look forward to an exciting, fruitful and impactful 2018 working in partnership with you all.
Finally, we want to extend a bouquet of gratitude to the Chairperson of the commission H.E. (Dr.) Moussa Faki Mahamat for his indefatigable commitment to the realization of Agenda 2063.
To all stakeholders, please send us reports of your CESA implementation activities.
H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor
