Ministers for Education Meeting Communiqué

The meeting of the SADC Ministers responsible for Education and Training was held at Maseru Sun, Maseru, Lesotho on 27th July 2007.

The meeting was attended by Honorable Ministers of Education from Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia were represented by Honourable Deputy Ministers for Education. Mauritius and the Democratic Republic of Congo were represented by Senior Officials. The African Union was represented by the Commissioner of Human Resouces Science and Technology.

The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Dr. Maphono Khaketla, Minister for Education, Lesotho. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Lesotho, Honourable Achibald Lesao Lehohla officially opened the meeting. In his remarks, the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister encouraged Member States to ensure that while they are individually making efforts to improve the quality of their education system, they should ensure that the region’s education systems are harmonized and competitive in the global economy. He implored Ministers of Education in the region to provide policy direction for affording all SADC citizens adequate access to quality educational services; raising investment in education and training infrastructure; increasing the number of personnel in critical skill areas and matching learning programmes with the labor market demands. The Minister of Education in South Africa, Mrs. Naledi Pandor offered vote of thanks to the opening address and assured the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister that SADC Ministers are committed to ensuring the provision of quality education in the region.

The main purpose of the meeting was to review progress on the implementation of SADC’s Programme of Action in the area of Education and Training, within the context of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training, SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and the African Union’s (AU) Second Decade of Education Plan of Action. In particular, the meeting reviewed progress of the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training based on an assessment that was conducted to determine the extent of implementation in Member States. In addition, the meeting considered issues and key documents that will be discussed during the Third Session of the Conference of Ministers of Education in Africa (COMEDAF III) to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 6-10 August 2007.

The meeting noted that substantial progress has been made in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training. Notable achievements include the following:

1. Most Member States are complying with provisions of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training such as the one on treating SADC students as home students in terms of tuition and accommodation and are reserving 5% of admission for SADC students in higher education institutions;

2. Net Enrollment Rate in primary education is ranging from 71-95% and there are no gender gap at this level;

3. Most Member States have developed National Science and Technology Policies in recognition of the fact that mathematics, science and technology are critical for economic growth and development;

4. Eight institutions in the region have been establishment as Centres of specialization.

5. Fifty Seven (57) initiatives for collaboration in programmes for higher education, technical and vocational education and open distance learning have been established; and

The meeting noted the areas which require improvements such the improvement of quality education at all levels, increasing cooperation in research, publishing and libraries, promoting of the learning SADC working languages and national languages, development of a common Education Management Information System (EMIS), strengthening collaboration in curriculum and teacher education development as well as increasing access to secondary education.

The Ministers approved the following:

1. A Regional Implementation Plan of Education and Training (2007-2015). The main priorities of the Plan include the seven priorities of the Second Decade Plan of Action namely: Gender and Culture, Education Management Information Systems, Teacher Education, Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Curriculum Development, and teaching and learning materials and Quality Management. In addition, it includes open and distance learning, secondary education, quality assurance and qualifications as additional priorities for the SADC region.

2. A SADC Progress Report on the Status of the Implementation of the AFRICAN Union Second Decade of Education Plan of Action. The report will be presented to COMENDAF III.

The Ministers also supported three key policy documents of the African Union, to be presented at the third session of the Conference of Ministers for Education in Africa (COMEDAF 111) in Johannesburg, South Africa from 6th to 10th August 2007 namely, the Strategy to Revitalise Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Africa, the Strategy for Harmonisation of Higher Education and the African Higher Education Quality Rating Mechanisms. In addition, Ministers supported an invitation to an Exchange Forum on Strategies for Education, Training Skills for Business and Industry for Southern Africa and the United Kingdom. The Exchange Forum will discuss issues on how education and training systems respond to the needs of business and industry both domestically and internationally with the aim of strengthening technical and vocational education training.

Ministers urged Member States to ensure that their Education Sector response to HIV and AIDS is comprehensive and programmes should encourage stakeholders in the sector to know and monitor their status, reduce stigma associated with a positive HIV status. Furthermore, Ministers called for a comprehensive approach to health promotion in the education sector in order to prevent and manage lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Ministers held a Policy Dialogue on scaling up access to education and training through Open and Distance Learning. The dialogue allowed Ministers to discuss and reflect on policy issues related to Open and Distance Learning.

The meeting expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Lesotho for the hosting the meeting and for the excellent logistical arrangements as well as the warm hospitality coded to the delegates.

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