African education union leaders called for peace, increased investment in quality education and the elevation of the teaching profession throughout the continent. They also acknowledged the need for greater involvement of young educators in their unions. This was during the last Education International Africa Regional Committee (EIARC).
A call for action
In her opening address to the event held from November 11th to 13th, 2024, in Accra, Ghana, EIARC President, Marima Chipkaou, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by many African countries, including war, conflicts, and violations of trade union and human rights. She urged the African Union to implement the new Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 2026-2035 and called on Education International (EI) African member organizations to support the EI "Go Public! Fund Education" campaign. Chipkaou also emphasized the importance of combating school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) and promoting quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.
The role of educators in promoting peace
Addressing the EIARC, EI President, Mugwena Maluleke, stated: "We are in an era when far-right energy is emboldened. We must also call for peace in the world. Instead of financing war, we must push governments to finance education!" He stressed the need to implement the recommendations of the United Nations High-level Panel on the Teaching Profession. Maluleke reiterated the role of educators in defending the rights of their members and championing education for all children in Africa and beyond.
While presenting the provisional 2025 EI Africa operational plan, EIA Director Dennis Sinyolo said: “Education International’s vision is to be the voice of education unions – a global force for quality education. EI Africa’s vision must be to become an effective, vibrant, and responsive EI Region united for inclusive quality education and educators’ rights. And our mission is to unite and mobilize teachers and education support personnel in Africa to fight for professional and education rights.”
African delegations at the EI World Congress
The participation of African member organizations at the 10th EI World Congress held from July 29th to August 2nd, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was notable, despite numerous challenges.
EI Deputy General Secretary Haldis Holst emphasized the importance of African women's voices in global representation, noting that 36% of African delegates were women, with their interventions accounting for 28.6% of African contributions. She also underlined that the recently launched Global Education Monitoring Report states that we are far away from reaching SDG4, with a specific challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, and that, on school-leadership, it shows that there is a challenge to clearly determine what the role of a school leader is.
Lifting barriers to young educators' union participation
The meeting also saw the launch of a study on "Barriers to the Participation of Young Educators in Education Unions and Leadership Roles in Africa." The study, conducted across 23 countries, highlighted structural, socio-economic, and cultural barriers that prevent young educators from fully engaging in union activities and leadership roles. Recommendations included fostering intergenerational dialogue, financial empowerment, skill enhancement, and the integration of technology to bridge generational divides and support young educators.
The need for qualified teachers
Davide Ruscelli, Senior Project Officer at the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 (TTF), addressed the issue of teacher qualifications, noting the diverse range of "contract teachers" in the region. He said that the UN recommendations on the teaching profession have six imperatives: dignity, humanity, equity, diversity, inclusion, quality, innovation, leadership, and sustainability in the teaching profession. Ruscelli also highlighted the urgent requirement for 444 million primary and secondary teachers worldwide by 2030 - 15 million more teachers needed for Sub-Saharan Africa alone – to meet the growing demand (UNESCO/TTF Global Report on Teachers).
Progress towards gender equity
Presenting the Gender Progress Report for Africa, EIA Coordinator, Anaïs Dayamba, stressed the importance of gender equity in achieving peaceful societies and sustainable development. She noted progress in awareness, interest from young women in unionism, and the election of more women as top union leaders.
EIARC resolutions
The EIARC meeting concluded with the adoption of three resolutions: a call for peace in the world, the elevation of the teaching profession in Africa, and an appeal to the Angolan government to cease interference in the activities of the national union of teachers (SINPROF).
In her closing remarks, Chipkaou underscored “the committee's desire to see the region move forward. It's a satisfaction! I see that together we are making progress. I would like this enthusiasm to continue at the level of the African region’s different zones and all our countries. We will see that each small progress leads to great progress. Hence the importance of bringing back what we do at the regional level to the level of our countries.”