Organiser: VVOB – education for development

Topic: School Leadership in Africa

Title:  Effective school leadership to promote resilient education systems in Africa

Date: Wednesday, 19th October 2022

Time: 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM Mauritius time (GMT+4)

Venue: Le Méridien Île Maurice

Storyline: To solve the learning crisis and allow young Africans to thrive and achieve their full potential, governments need to address the four critical pillars of prepared learners, quality teachers, inputs and monitoring focused on learning, and effective school leaders. Effective school leadership enables the three other pillars to come together. School leaders are responsible for the effective management of the school, providing academic leadership and strategic vision. Research has clearly shown that school leadership accounts for up to 25% of variation in students’ learning achievements, second only to classroom teaching. The ADEA 2022 Triennale as one of Africa’s high-level forums for political dialogue and sharing of knowledge and fruitful experiences, is an opportunity to introduce the African Centre for school leadership and discuss about school leadership in Africa. It will also be an opportunity to call for action in support of school leadership and school leadership development to address the learning crisis affecting education systems in Africa. The side event on “Effective school leadership to promote resilient education systems in Africa” will bring together representatives of Ministries of Education in Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana, education development partners and learning partners, to share their knowledge, experience and good practices in building resilient education systems through effective school leadership and school leadership development. 

Objectives: 

  1. Advocate for Ministries of Education in Africa to make school leadership an integral part of their policies and strategies for promoting resilient education systems and improved teaching and learning.
  2. Explore effective, affordable and scalable solutions for the continuous professional development (CPD) of school leaders, specifically with the goal of promoting the role of school leaders in developing teacher leadership, autonomy, and innovation.
  3. Propose how external partners (education development partners, learning partners, civil society, private sector) can best support country ambitions, highlighting the concrete solution of promoting school leadership in Africa as exemplified in the African Center for School Leadership.

Expected outcomes:

  1. Shared understanding of the importance of effective school leadership for building quality and resilient education systems in Africa.  
  2. Shared knowledge, experiences, good practices, and solutions to inform policies and programmes aimed at promoting effective school leadership for improved teaching and learning in Africa.
  3. Fostered partnerships among key stakeholders to support the African Centre for school leadership and advance policy and strategy development and implementation around school leadership.

Moderator: Hendrina Doroba, Division Manager – Education and Skills Development, African Development Bank

Rapporteur: Dr Jef Peeraer, Global Strategic Education Advisor, VVOB Brussels 

Opening remarks: Hon. Dr Valentine UWAMARIYA, Minister of Education, Rwanda (TBC)

Panellists: 

  • Mr. Wycliffe Wawire Wasike, Deputy Director, Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI)
  • Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom, Director General, Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), Ghana
  • Mr. Pascal GATABAZI, Chief Technical Advisor, Ministry of Education, Rwanda
  • Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary, ADEA
  • Mr. David Rurangirwa, Head of Country Program - Rwanda, Mastercard Foundation (virtual)