Lead image for EAC states push for harmonised education systems to deepen integration.
Education stakeholders in the East African Community are pushing for harmonised education systems to ease the movement of learners, teachers, skills and qualifications and deepen regional integration.
More than 600 delegates from across the East African Community are meeting in Nairobi to take stock of progress since the inaugural Arusha Conference in 2024 and turn regional education commitments into action.
Education has been identified by EAC partner states as a critical pillar of regional integration, with stakeholders sharing experiences, lessons and successful approaches that could be adopted or strengthened across the region.
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Kenya’s East African Community Affairs Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul Moe said the discussions seek to promote cross-border learning and remove barriers that hinder learners from accessing education across partner states.
“Education has been seen by partner states as a critical pillar in transforming the bloc, so we are clearing any barrier that would make students not access education from whatever country within the member states,” she said.
During the inaugural regional conference on education, partner states made commitments including increasing budgetary allocations to education to 20 per cent of national budgets and expanding access, particularly for refugees.
Principal Secretary Inyangala said the latest conference is an opportunity for countries to assess the progress made and learn from one another how to overcome challenges that have slowed implementation.