New AU framework to create ‘teachers without borders’ force

The African Union (AU) is developing a continental teacher qualification framework and a protocol to ensure teacher mobility in Africa in what will culminate in a “teachers without borders” workforce.

The continental body is also working on standardised training and is putting in place measures to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training and teaching.

The initiative is being undertaken as part of the teacher development programme that has been prioritised as part of the AU’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25).

The programme is taking into consideration recommendations that came out of a study on teacher training, working and living conditions commissioned by the AU and carried out in 54 member states with funding from the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.

Teachers without borders

Among the recommendations to African heads of state, the study pointed to a need to prepare a continental teacher mobility protocol managed by the AU, with a view to set up a “teachers without borders” force at regional and continental levels and establish continental professional guidelines to be adopted by countries as guiding principles for teacher management, to foster teacher motivation and professionalism.

It suggested a need to enforce a basic academic degree-diploma as the minimum entry requirement into the profession, and to redesign the training of teachers to include induction and mentoring during pre-service and in-service periods.

The study's recommendations included a systematic review, possibly after a five year period, of teacher training curricula; harmonising initial preparation courses for all teachers prior to specialisation; establishing schools of education for continuous professional education and introducing administrative academic qualifications.

Dr Beatrice Njenga, head of the AU Human Resources, Science and Technology Department, said the study was commissioned by the AU Assembly in recognition of the key role of the teacher in achieving quality inclusive transformative education.

Implementation

“To implement the recommendations, we are working on strengthening education management information systems to facilitate management of the teacher corps in member states for deployment and development planning,” she said.

A teacher mobility protocol is also on the cards to facilitate sharing of teacher resources, “especially moving from countries with excess to those in dire shortage, towards a continental teachers without borders”, said Njenga.

The AU was also working on the development of continental standards and guidelines for the teaching profession to help raise standards, professionalism and status, and the development of a continental teacher qualification framework, a continental teacher award, and the strengthening of STEM teaching, among others.

Njenga said this was part of the implementation of Agenda 2063 and CESA 16-25.

According to CESA’s executive summary, the strategy is driven by the desire to set up a “qualitative system of education and training to provide the African continent with efficient human resources adapted to African core values and therefore capable of achieving the vision and ambitions of the African Union”.

Objectives

The strategy has 12 strategic objectives that include accelerating processes leading to gender parity and equity; strengthening the science and mathematics curricula in youth training, disseminating scientific knowledge and culture in society, and revitalising the teaching profession to ensure quality and relevance.

Njenga said in implementing CESA, stakeholders or key agencies working in the particular themes in Africa as well as member states are grouped into thematic clusters where they come together and develop joint work plans for achieving the goals of CESA and Agenda 2063.

“Agencies volunteer to coordinate each cluster for purposes of follow-up and reporting back on progress to the African Union Commission (AUC). All the clusters are chaired by the AUC. So far, there are 12 CESA thematic clusters operational. They include higher education, ICT in education, and STEM education among others,” she said.