The Ministers of Education from the eight Intergovernmental Authority on Development countries have adopted the qualifications framework to standardize education in the region.
The framework is focused on an inclusive, and quality education for the refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons and host communities.
The Ministers and representatives from IGAD Member States convened in Entebbe, Uganda on Thursday for the conference under the theme “Towards Quality and Inclusive Education for All ”.
The IGAD’s Executive Secretary H.E Workneh Gebeyehu, in his address delivered by Mme Fathia Alwan, the IGAD Director for Health and Social Development said education is a fundamental right for all citizens including refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.
“For sustainable development in the region, access to quality, affordable, equitable, and relevant education and skills development opportunities are important to benefit the dynamic, creative, receptive and innovative population of the young people,” said Gebeyehu.
The qualification framework was praised by the Uganda Minister of State for Education and Sports who represented the First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.
“The IGAD Quality Education Framework will provide opportunities for education and employment of citizens among the Member States,” said Ogwang.
In 2017, IGAD ministers in charge of education adopted the Djibouti Declaration, which laid out the key priority areas for equitable, inclusive and quality education for all, with particular emphasis on education for refugees, returnees and host communities.
One of the key strategic intervention areas of the Djibouti Declaration is the development of Regional Education Quality Standards.
The regional instrument will recognize 20 different types of formal education qualifications including primary, vocational and secondary, and higher education such as undergraduate and postgraduate. It will also help expand opportunities between various institutions and educational levels.
In a Communique issued at the end of the meeting, the participants adopted the IGAD Qualifications Framework (IGADQF) as part of the Djibouti Declaration implementation and also urged the IGAD Secretariat to develop a plan of action for the implementation of the framework.
Equally, Member States committed to creating mechanisms for mutual recognition and equation of Qualifications and micro-credentials across the IGAD region.