September 25,2024(Nairobi, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has conducted the 2nd Regional Teacher Training Initiative Workshop, to meet the pressing need for high-quality teacher training in refugee settings across our member states.
The overall objectives of the three days training is to update all stakeholders about the achievements in the area of teacher training as outlined in the Djibouti Declaration and forge the way forward with regard to the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative.
Speaking on behalf of Mrs. Fathia A. Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development Division, IGAD, Dr. Victoria Anib, Head of Social Development Explained that the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative has been instrumental in training 751 teachers across Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, chosen as pilot countries due to their proactive approach in developing and adopting a multi-year, costed plan of action to implement the Djibouti Declaration.
She also reminded that the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative (ITTI), supported by the Government of Germany through GIZ, was inaugurated in 2020/2021, with the actual training commencing in February 2021 and concluding in November 2022 and the initiative has been instrumental in training 751 teachers across Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, chosen as pilot countries due to their proactive approach in developing and adopting a multi-year, costed plan of action to implement the Djibouti Declaration.
“Our focus on capacity building, standardization, and inclusivity establishes a strong foundation where every teacher is equipped to inspire and educate students, irrespective of their background or circumstances,” Dr. Victoria emphasised.
Mr. Awaleh Abdulkadir Hersi, Director of Training and private Education, and representative of IGAD char, Djibouti, explained that it is a regional meetings\ that gather education experts in order to exchange their experiences and to best practices particularly in regard to the plot project that enables to refugees teachers in three IGAD member states to build their capacities.
“I finally insist on the fact that teacher training is key to quality education,” He stated.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Adam Abdi, representative of Ministry of Education, Republic of Kenya, as a host country disclosed that Teachers professional development should be prioritized in order to enhance quality of education for economic development in the member states.
Moreover, he expressed that Teachers play important role in Education System and any effort to improve their skills through training is highly welcomed.
“We appreciate the IGAD role in improving Education Standards in the members state,” Mr., Adam Stressed.
Mr. samatar natalis , team leader for the SIMPI project highlighted that Under the leadership of IGAD, the SIMPI program, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, plays a key role in advancing the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative (ITTI).
Mr. Samatar also stated that IGAD’s leadership, combined with BMZ’s support and GIZ’s implementation, is paving the way for education to become a force for peace and progress. Stay connected as we continue to build an educated Africa, fit for the 21st century.
“Together with IGAD, we are committed to ensuring that all teachers – refugee or host community – have equal opportunities to grow and succeed, contributing to regional stability and development. This initiative is a cornerstone in improving education quality for refugees, returnees, and host communities across the IGAD region. Thanks to IGAD’s vision and coordination, 751 teachers have already been trained in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, creating more resilient educational systems,” he said.
The workshop brought together participants from member states (senior officials, refugee, agencies, refugee teachers who participated in the previous trainings, national coordinators of the training, board member universities, universities in refugee hosting areas in member states, ministries for foreign affairs, partner institutions and IGAD Secretariat.
The IGAD Teacher Training Initiative workshop is financed by GIZ.
Since the adoption of the Djibouti Declaration (DD) and its Plan of Action in 2017, IGAD has been playing critical leadership roles in promoting refugee, returnee, and host communities’ access to quality education.
