The African Union Commission has officially announced that the Kingdom of Eswatini will host the forthcoming edition of the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED) from 5–7 October 2026. The high-level continental forum will convene Ministers of Education, policymakers, teacher unions, academic and training institutions, civil society organizations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and international development partners to strengthen collective action towards advancing the teaching profession and transforming education systems across Africa.

PACTED serves as a premier continental platform dedicated to addressing critical challenges and emerging opportunities in teacher education, teacher professional development, policy reform, and education transformation. The selection of Eswatini as host country reflects the Kingdom’s strong commitment to advancing continental education priorities and supporting efforts aimed at enhancing teacher professionalism, innovation, quality, and skills development in Africa.

The 2026 edition of PACTED comes at a strategic moment as Africa accelerates the implementation of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034). Recognizing teachers as the cornerstone of resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented education systems, the Conference aligns with the aspirations of African Union Agenda 2063, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2026–2035), and the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Over the course of the three-day Conference, participants will engage in high-level policy dialogues, technical sessions, knowledge-sharing engagements, and partnership discussions aimed at generating practical and sustainable solutions to persistent challenges facing education systems across the continent. Key areas of focus will include teacher shortages, teacher motivation and welfare, quality teacher preparation, digital and pedagogical innovation, professional standards, teacher mobility, financing for teacher development, and strengthening institutional capacities for continuous professional learning.

PACTED 2026 will further promote strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, RECs, teacher associations, development partners, academia, and private-sector actors, particularly in the area of digital transformation and innovation in education. Through these strategic partnerships, the Conference seeks to mobilize sustainable investments and collective action towards empowering African teachers to effectively drive inclusive, resilient, and future-ready education systems capable of responding to the continent’s socio-economic development aspirations.

For further information, please contact:

1. Dr. Caseley Olabode Stephens | Principal Officer, Basic and Secondary Education | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation | African Union Commission| E-mail: StephensC@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

For media inquiries, please contact:

2. Mr. Maqhawe Freedom Thwala | Digital Communications Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: ThwalaM@africanunion.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
3. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org

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