Topics:

  • How COVID-19 has impacted access, relevance, and quality education, especially for disadvantaged (IDPs, refugees...) and vulnerable children.
  • The most effective solutions and technologies that contributed/sustained learning continuity (both with teachers and learners) at the pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

Date: Thursday, 20th October 2022

Time: 14:45 PM – 16:15 PM Mauritius time (GMT+4)

Venue: Le Méridien Île Maurice

Storyline: The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the imperative for forward planning with crisis situations in mind. ADEA's engagement with African countries regarding strategies for continuous learning, reopening of learning institutions, and the future’s “new normal” revealed valuable lessons. Among the key recommendations is a review of the overall policy and regulatory guidelines to mainstream digital technology, strengthening teacher professional development, exploring alternative funding models, and revisiting existing norms and standards. Equipped with a gender, equity, and inclusion lens, the KIX Observatory on COVID-19 Responses in Educational Systems in Africa provides evidence from 40 GPE partner countries in Africa on how governments quickly responded by changing policies and practices to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in terms of the continued operations of education and the well-being of learners beyond education. At the same time, the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank commissioned ADEA to undertake a study on the use of ICT in education during crises and remote learning. The evidence from this study, which covers all the levels of education in 30 African countries, will shape the recommendations on the investment needs and opportunities thereof to build back better. The discussions under this sub-theme will therefore focus on (1) financing education recovery in a post-COVID-19 era, (2) developing the environment for teachers (capacity and policy needs) and learners, and (3) using infrastructure, technology, and connectivity to increase access and diversity to education.

Objectives: 

  1. Present the innovative policy solutions and indigenous strategies that African countries, businesses and citizens have developed to overcome COVID-19 impact on education delivery. 
  2. Explore concrete and realistic ways of moving from policies to practices as reflected in country-level priorities and plans.
  3. Agree on sustainable and effective measures and partnerships to build back better education systems post-COVID-19, in line with the objectives of the Transforming Education Summit.

Expected outcomes: 

  1. Increased understanding of the best practices and African-led solutions to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on educational systems.
  2. Increased partnerships and stronger networks to address the COVID-19 impact on learning recovery in Africa
  3. A practical plan to build back better with key priority areas for African Ministries of Education and development partners, aligned with the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit. 

Moderator: Dr Jordan Naidoo, Ag. Director, UNESCO International Institute for Education Planning (IIEP)

Rapporteurs:  

  • Charry Lee, Project Analyst, Delivery and Education Workforce, Education Commission
  • Olawale Samuel, Africa Regional Hub Coordinator, Leading Through Learning Global Platform, Education Development Center (EDC)

Expert perspective: Dr. Maïmouna SISSOKO-TOURE, Coordinator, KIX Africa 21 Hub, Institute de la Francophonie pour l'éducation et la formation (International Organisation of La Francophonie)

Regional response: ADEA Secretariat. Findings from the study on the use of ICT in Education during crisis and remote learning. 

Panellists: 

  • Prof. Raissa Malu, Director, Investing in People ASBL, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
  • Dr Margarita Focas Licht, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Global Partnership for Education
  • Mr Jaakko Vuorio, Finnish National Agency for Education. National distance learning programmes in response to the COVID-19 education disruption: best practices from a case study of Finland. 
  • Mr Idrissa Dia, Acting Director, Economic & Social Infrastructure Department, Islamic Development Bank.
  • Serge Kyelem, KIX Afrique 21 Focal Point & Education Planning Officer, Ministry of National Education, Burkina Faso