Africa: Unions to remind governments that education is central in the achievements of Millenium Development Goals
The Education International Africa Regional Committee (EIARC) held its annual meeting in Lomé, Togo, from 16th-18th March. The representatives of the six zones of the African Region reviewed activities of the last year.
The meeting was opened by a representative of the Minister for Primary, Secondary Education and literacy informed the meeting in his opening remarks informed that the government was vigorously planning to revitalise teacher training in Togo. A new sector plan had been made and plans were underway to main stream casual teachers by 2011. Although he regretted the decision to relocate the regional office, he hailed the good cooperation that existed between EI and the Government.
The President of EIARC, Irene Adanusa, highlighted the prevailing situation in the region which among other things still had inadequacy of access to infrastructure, and quality of teachers. Union and labour rights, she added, are continually under threat. In some countries unions were not recognised and a number where under post war crisis. She underscored the need for unions to remind governments that education is central in the achievements of MDGs.
The issues of the economic meltdown stood out in the deliberations. Charlie Lennon, EI Deputy General Secretary, observed that the globalisation of financial systems would mean that all will be affected in one way or the other. Liabilities were bought and sold at a global scale hence the current crisis which begun in America and Europe, is now evident with the emerging economies and is likely to spread to engulf Africa also. The effects will be reflected in public spending drawbacks, curtailing spending on education and health and frozen development aid.
The response to the economic slowdown ought to be global just as the cause was, the meeting heard. Efforts were seen in the attempt to work together at civil service level without much progress. A G20 countries (that have 80% of world production) meeting is expected to be convened in London to address the issue. The Obama stimulus packages in the USA and the one in Australia have specifically earmarked funds for education.
It was emphasised that education should be taken as part of the solution to the economic meltdown. Education should be a central part of the recovery plan, but key investment should go into people not merely infrastructure. This is because education is important when dealing with the future. All Governments need to be reminded in order not to lose the MDGs. The meeting also learned that an action plan was to be presented for approval by the Executive board of EI.
While EI has to influence policy along this line at international level, it was imperative to look at the African system and identify the problems. Some effects were already being felt in Africa given that the mines in Zambia have now closed. In Sierra Leone, titanium has lost market, and tourism has suffered greatly in Senegal for example.
