EAC develops strategic plans to integrate the education sector in the region
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 25th April, 2023: The East African Community (EAC) has developed and adopted seven strategic education plans as part of efforts to facilitate the quick integration of the education sector in East Africa.
EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, stated that the strategic plans are at the basic and tertiary levels of education, namely: Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Education, TVET, Continuing and Non-Formal Education, and Special Needs Education.
The Secretary General further said that the EAC was committed to harmonising the EAC education systems and training curricula, adding that the bloc was working on the sustainability of EAC Scholarship Programmes through its specialized institution, the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) and the various EAC Centres of Excellence.
Dr. Mathuki said that the implementation of EAC Teacher and Students’ mobility programmes would be a boon to the free movement of persons across the Partner States as envisaged under the EAC Common Market Protocol.
Dr. Mathuki was speaking during the opening session of a three-day Conference of Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), Machakos County, that is taking place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Secretary General observed that as the Community implements the Common Market Protocol, the number of students studying in different Partner States has increased over the years.
“This increase is facilitated by the issuance of visa gratis to students admitted in approved training institutions across all Partner States. Easing of the visa requirements by Partner States is in an effort to implement the commitments under the EAC Common Market Protocol,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Dr. Mathuki hailed teachers as professionals in transforming society by opening up minds and urged them to sensitize their students on the integration process and its attendant benefits.
“The education sector is a key contributor to the EAC integration process and I therefore request you to become our goodwill ambassadors to ensure ownership of the integration process by the people at the grassroots,” he said.
The Secretary General informed the teachers that the EAC conducts an annual Secondary School Students’ Essay Writing Competition awarded by the EAC Heads of State Summit and urged them to impress upon their students to participate in the annual competition.
“The Summit has awarded 30 winners from 2019 to 2021. I encourage you to facilitate your students to participate,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Dr. Mathuki emphasized that the essence of an expanded EAC market was increased trade to promote economic growth and creating more employment opportunities for the youth in the region.
Also present at the forum were the Chairperson of the Machakos County Education Board, Prof. David Mulwa, the County Director of Education, Ms. Margaret Mwirigi, and the Chairperson of the Machakos KESSHA, Mr. Anthony Kitungi.
Mr. Kitungi thanked the EAC Secretariat for allowing the association to hold its conference at the EAC Headquarters saying that education goes beyond the classroom, adding that it was an excellent opportunity for the teachers to interact with new people, understand their culture and get to see new environments.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of seven Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified