Call for same education system across East Africa
Pupils study at a boarding school for former street girls in Thika, Kenya. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for same higher education and training systems among the East African Community (EAC) member states. PHOTO |FILE
What you need to know:
- Kenya called for a strong academia-private sector partnership with the support of the EAC governments in order to realise the regional aspirations
Kampala. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for same higher education and training systems among the East African Community (EAC) member states.
He said this will allow young East Africans to study in a university of their choice and allow for cross-border movement of graduates.
“This means our graduates will leave universities well-equipped to spearhead our industrialisation; they will come out job creators and not job seekers,” Mr Kenyatta said in his speech for the opening of a second Academia-Private Forum and Exhibitions in Nairobi on Thursday.
In a speech read for him by Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Ms Phyllis Kandie, Mr Kenyatta called for a strong academia-private sector partnership with the support of the EAC governments in order to realise the regional aspirations.
The President pointed out that under such an arrangement, the private sector would ensure the development of skilful, adaptive, competent and enterprising human and capital resources capable of meeting the regional needs.
The acting chairman of the EAC Council of Ministers, Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, commended efforts by the East Africa’s academia and private sector to give a new direction on the education system and make it contemporary.
“This is among efforts by East Africans to turn our economies and education to higher levels and make the region productive and prosperous,” said Prof Kabwegyere, also Ugandan minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, said the dialogue between academia and the private sector is critical for the region to transform into a sustainable knowledge-based economy.
“There is a sense of urgency for this agenda. We are at a historic junction in Africa’s march to socio-economic development,” he said, adding that East Africa must seize the opportunity to lift millions of its citizens out of abject poverty. “We cannot afford to remain in the deceptive cocoons of low expectations.”The chairman of the East African Business Council, Mr Vimal Shah, said the private sector is committed to getting involved in the development of curricula, supporting research and commercialising the research output and innovations.
