23 May 2022, (NAIROBI, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) opened the second regional consultative Education Experts meeting on Regional Qualifications Framework this morning in Nairobi.
A key purpose of the Regional Experts Meeting is to establish an IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework network of experts to participate in the development process and contribute to the sustainability of the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework implementation.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of IGAD and the Director for Social Development of IGAD, IGAD Head of Mission in Republic of Kenya, Dr. Fatuma Ibrahim Adan, welcomed the participants and lauded the efforts the Government of Germany through GIZ as well as UNHCR, UNESCO, UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and the European Union, over the past four years, to implement the various actions outlined in the Djibouti Declaration.
“Over the next three days, we will hear from global and regional experts on their experiences in developing and implementing qualifications frameworks. This will also be an important opportunity for distinguished member states’ experts to contribute to the development and sustainability of the IGAD RQF.” Dr. Fatuma said.
she stressed that through this expert consultative meeting, IGAD hopes to co-create spaces for developing clear pathways for each member states to develop and strengthens their national capacity for assessing, harmonizing and validating credentials; ultimately reducing barriers for some of the most marginalized in our communities.
The second regional consultative Education Experts meeting on Regional Qualifications Frame work was opened and chaired by Dr Moawia Elsir Gashi, General Manager of Sudan National center for Curriculum and Educational Researches. Representative from UNHCR, UNESCO, and Kenya Guest of Honor gave their remarks.
In his opening remarks, Dr Moawia Elsir Gashi stated that the IGAD member states have to organize their cultural relationship to construct the regional education qualification frame work.
During the opening of the second regional consultative Education Experts meeting on Regional Qualifications Frame work, Dr Kebede Tsegaye IGAD Senior programme coordinator of Education, Science and Technology recaled that IGAD have developed the roadmap for a Regional Qualifications Framework, as provided in the Djibouti Declaration and Addis Ababa Call for Action. Both tools were unanimously adopted at the 3rd Ministers in Charge of Education Meeting in March in Addis Ababa.
The three-day meeting will be the first convening of experts nominated by each Member State to engage in a participatory peer-learning session, focusing on the core themes of qualifications frameworks and systems. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for collaborative face to-face discussions, reflection, and analysis towards developing and implementing the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework.
IGAD also plans an experience sharing visit by the participants to the Kenyan National Qualification Agency (KNQA) which has the best facilities and organizational set – ups that can be a good example for other member states.
Representatives from National, regional and international expert in Education Qualifications, selected partners and IGAD staff are attending this three day meeting.
The meeting is supported by the IGAD-ECW and GIZ/SIMPI Project.
The Djibouti Declaration amplifies the need to “simplify the mechanism of refugee children to access quality education and facilitate their rapid entry to the national education system”.
