AFTRA Hosts 11th Teaching and Learning Conference in Lusaka Zambia
AFTRA, the African Teacher Regulatory Authorities, is the intergovernmental organisation for the regulation of teaching in Africa. It includes Ministries of Education, teaching councils, unions, universities, and international organizations. AFTRA is also the Africa branch of IFTRA (www.iftra.org), co-chairs the AU Teacher Development Cluster, and is part of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030. It collaborates closely with the AU Commission, UNESCO, Education International, Commonwealth, OECD, and others.
The Conference is an annual global event open to stakeholders in Africa and across the world, from government representatives to teaching professionals, academics, researchers, publishers, innovators, industry experts, digital giants, and post graduate students.
The Roundtable is the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Federation and admits delegates of only member Ministries and organisations. The 11th Conference and 13th Roundtable were hosted by the Ministry of Education Zambia and the Teaching Council of Zambia at Mulungushi International Conference Centre Lusaka, Zambia from May 6 to May 11 under the theme: “The Teachers we need for the Education we want”.
Over four hundred delegates and participants, representing twenty two countries, attended the Conference physically while at least over a thousand participated virtually through Zoom. The events were also streamed live in various media handles of Zambia, AFTRA and UNESCO and also broadcast over the national television and radio stations of Zambia.
The Teachers Council of Seychelles, represented by Mrs. Yasmin Umarji Chairperson, Mr. Andy Esparon Vice Chairperson and Ms. Inesse Oredy Registrar of the Teachers Council, made its debut at the AFTRA 11th Teaching and Learning Conference and received a membership certificate. This marked Seychelles’ inaugural attendance as a full member.
This milestone emphasizes Seychelles commitment to promoting the teaching profession at international levels and for providing quality education to all its learners.
Key Highlights from the conference:
- Ministerial Session – The Ministers present endorsed a twelve-point commitment for member countries.
- Regulatory Requirements – discussions focused on elements and standards for regulating the profession.
- Licensure – plans were made to engage school leaders and create a pool of teachers across borders.
- Digital Literacy – efforts to enhance teachers’ digital skills were discussed.
- Psycho-Social Support – strategies for prioritizing teachers’ well-being were highlighted.
- Remuneration – ensuring competitive salaries for teachers was emphasized.
- African Union Best Teacher Prize – member countries were encouraged to nominate outstanding educators.
- Active Membership – the importance of participation in AFTRA and IFTRA was underscore.
The Vice President of Zambia commended AFTRA’s efforts in advancing teaching professionalism. Professor Josiah Ajidoye, President of AFTRA, emphasized the conference’s significance in fostering cross-border learning.
The AFTRA conference provided a vital platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and enhance education in Africa and beyond. The Seychelles delegation made effective use of this opportunity to network and learn from the more experienced and well established teaching councils. Fruitful and productive discussions were initiated with the Zambian Teaching Council signaling a promising collaboration for educational advancement.