Addis Ababa, December 10 2018 – The Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology organized the Launch of the CESA Thematic Cluster on Curriculum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 10th - 11th December 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues confronting education quality, relevance and responsiveness, as a necessary part of ensuring that Education contributes to achievement of Agenda 2063. The following Member States were present: Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Senegal, Namibia, Mauritius, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi.
A number of international and regional agencies were present, including UNESCO, UNESCO-IICBA, ADEA, FAWE, AfECN, Save the Children, AAU, AIMS, CAPA, CEMASTEA, AFTRA, VSO and ACDE.
The Curriculum cluster will provide opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to align their education interventions towards the common African vision to ensure a more Afri-centric, quality, inclusive, relevant, responsive and transformative curriculum.
“The Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) responds to the Agenda 2063 call for and Education and Skills revolution. She said that it sets out the path for building quality and relevant education and training for generating the skills, values, mindsets for the human capacity that is required for the Africa We Want.” said the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor. The Commissioner said that it is therefore essential to reform curricula to re-orient education systems towards the African vision, taking into account African realities and aspirations, while ensuring inclusiveness.
Dr. Ana Elisa Santana Afonso, UNESCO AU Liaison office Director reiterated the place of CESA as critical for the achievement of SDGs. AU and UNESCO are working to strengthen partnership to ensure that member states wield strong institutions to address SDG4. The right of education of every child can be realised if only it gains the necessary political support, she said.
Participants proposed the following key points to be considered in the establishment of the CESA Curriculum Cluster and its mandate:
• Take stock of existing regional and continental curriculum harmonization frameworks and build on them.
• Ensure that curriculum instills entrepreneurship and employability skills in youth to address the issue of unemployment in Africa.
• Establish the minimum standards for curriculum development, including mainstreaming gender in curriculum development and implementation
• Emphasise learner centered teaching and learning in order to unearth the creative and problem solving skills of children.
• Ensure reflection and consideration of the African society and context
• Ensure inclusive curriculum, tailored to special needs learners and persons with disabilities.
• Involve relevant agencies and institutions, including private sector, and the AU ACALAN that deals with matters of language
The Africa Curriculum Association (ACA) was adopted as the Coordinator of the Cluster, to be chaired by the African Union Commission and Co-chaired by South Africa. Senegal will also be a member of the Cluster Coordination team.

For media enquires contact:
Mr. Stephen kwaku Darko | Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: DarkoS@africa-union.org Tel: +251(0) 953406832
Mrs. Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org
For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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