AFTRA holds 10th Teaching and Learning Conference & 12th Roundtable in Windhoek, Namibia, May 9-12, 2023.
Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) is the intergovernmental umbrealla of the Ministries of Education and National Teaching Council whose mandate is to coordinate the regulation and professionalisation of teaching in Africa. It is the key Education Partner of the African Union which leads the development of the continental teacher policies and frameworks. It was established in 2010 by the Ministers of Education in Africa and has consistently held its annual Conference and Roundtable since then. This year’s events will be hosted by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Republic of Namibia and the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU).
The Conference brings together the Ministers of Education and heads of the various Ministerial Departments, National Teaching Councils, teacher unions, teacher education institutions, African Union organs, UNESCO/International Task Force on Teachers, UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, Education International Africa Region, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, and several other continental and global bodies to help chart the way forward for the teaching profession in Africa. The theme of this years’ Conference is “Transforming Education in Africa: Teachers, Teaching and the Teaching Profession.” This is in line with the ongoing dialogue motivated by the UN Secretary General’s TRANSFORMING EDUCATION SUMMIT (TES) which in part focused on the teaching profession.
The Roundtable is AFTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which enables the assembly of the Ministries of Education, National Teaching Councils and other member organisations of AFTRA to ratify highlevel decisions. All African countries are members; therefore the Ministries of Education, National Teaching Councils, teacher unions, teacher education institutions and the relevant African continental and global teacher-related organisations are encouraged to formally register with AFTRA to contribute their quota towards strengthening the regulation and professionalisation of teaching in Africa. This will immensely contribute towards the achievement of the SDG4c targets in the continent.
The climax of the 2023 AFTRA Conference and Roundtable will be the Opening Ceremony on May 9, 2023 where the President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency, Hage Gottfried Geingob is billed to address the Conference as the Special Guest of Honour. He will also be invested with AFTRA’s highest award reserved for the Presidents and Heads of Africa who had demonstrated unparalled support and commitment to the teaching profession.
Immediately after the Opening Ceremony, the Annual Ministerial Session will take place to be chaired by Her Excellency, Ester Nghipondoka, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Namibia. The Ministerial Session of AFTRA features the presentation of policy briefs by the relevent teacher policy organisations in Africa inlcuding AFTRA, African Union Commission, UNESCO/Internatonal Task Force on Teachers, UNESCO Internation Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, Education International and others. Thereafter, the Ministers are able to brainstorm and come up with their Annual Ministerial Communique on the Teaching Profession which is a powerful instrument and blueprint for channelling efforts towards the regulation and professionalisation of teaching in the continent.
