iicba on teacher issues towards a teacher support and motivation framework for africa
TRANSCRIPT
IICBA ON TEACHER ISSUESTowards a Teacher Support and Motivation Framework for
Africa
By John N. Oliphant, Lesotho05 Dec 2016
Introducing IICBA
The International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa is one of UNESCO’s Institutes established in 1999.
Situated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Its mandate is to strengthen the capacities
of the 54 African Member States in the area of teacher development.
In pursuit of its mandate IICBA has three key programs as follows: Technical assistance to member countries, training, and research
Purpose of the Presentation
To position IICBA in the worldwide initiatives on TEACHER SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION led by the International Teachers’ Task Force
To highlight some of the activities and long-term commitments and projects of IICBA in TEACHER SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION issues, challenges and policy initiatives on the African continent.
Background 1/2 The significance of teachers is well documented and
acknowledged. There is no quality education without qualified and
motivated teacher. Yet we know from some research that in Africa
teachers are generally poorly paid and they face difficult working conditions (Sinyolo, 2007; Wilson, 2003); teachers are forced to “moonlighting’ with all its consequences on teaching quality; teacher hiring (and firing) is bureaucratic & slow (Mulkeen, 2010) etc. Need for more context-based knowledge in Africa.
Education International and UNESCO; the International Teachers Task Force and various partners all recognize in various ways that quality teachers are key to sustainable global development and that their training, recruitment, retention, status and working conditions are among top priorities.
Background 2/2 The centrality of quality teachers and
their motivation and support have been recognized in various African and global fora; e.g. The Kigali Conference of Ministers of Education and various global partners
They also find expression in CESA 16-25 – Continental Education Strategy for Africa, AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Incheon Declaration of 2015
Recent IICBA’s Initiatives on Teachers Issues and Teacher Motivation Seminar with African stakeholders and
partners and Education International in Addis Ababa on 26th September 2016
Critical examination of the significance, currency and relevance of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendations on teachers.
Coming out of this seminar and related meetings were recommendations and An African statement for the World Teachers Day in UNESCO HQ on October 5th, 2016.
September 2016 Recommendations of IICBA and Partners for Africa– ON MOTIVATION ISSUES
The need to invest in comprehensive and holistic teachers’ policies
Ensuring that teachers have a voice Professionalization and better status of teachers,
covering the need to re-valorize the status of teachers and teaching as a profession
Provision of the right incentives (monetary and non-monetary) to enhance teachers’ motivation: salaries and social protection, teachers’ autonomy, school governance and leadership etc.
Provision of quality support to newly trained and recruited teachers – significance of meaningful teaching practice placements in diverse locations
Improving and expanding teacher professional development and ensuring clearly defined guidelines for career advancement, school leadership and management roles
Towards the Development of a Continental Teacher Support and Motivation Framework (TSMF) The need to develop a Continental TSMF (to guide policy &
practice) was agreed at the September seminar; WHAT IS NEEDED?
With IICBA’s facilitation and support a Concept Note on the development of the TSMF was developed and circulated among various partners and stakeholders for enrichment. Generally accepted and being finalized.
A phased methodology was agreed to develop the TSMF and ultimately a diagnostic tool for use by individual countries to diagnose and analyze teacher support and motivation issues/dimensions WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW & DO.
Concluding Remark IICBA pledges its full support to the
International Teachers’ Task Force initiative and theme of this Siem Reap, Cambodia conference and subsequent related activities
It invites all in this conference to support its African teacher support and motivation initiatives outlined in this presentation
Thank you
Contacts
Dr. John Oliphant (International Consultant) [email protected]
Mr. Omar DIOP (UNESCO-IICBA Education Specialist) [email protected]