Following on the heels of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) which offers remote access for teachers to its remote Bachelor’s Degree in Education, the Federation has been building support for what the Minister referred to as a ‘game-changing contribution to the professionalization of the nations’ teaching staff.”
The Federation’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Dr. David P. Doyle, met with H.E. Ali J. Mwadini, Ambassador of the Republic of Tanzania to France who is also the country’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, in Paris this week to brief him on this innovative initiative.
The Ministry of Education concluded its negotiations with the Open University of Tanzania recently, culminating in the MOU agreement, signed on 18th October 2024, in the virtual presence of Professor Elifas Tozo Bisanda, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). In partnership with UNESCO, the agreement offers access to the University’s Bachelor’s Degree, aimed at strengthening the capacities of teachers in education and training provision, management, research, monitoring and evaluation.
The Education Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley stated that, “the intention of the Ministry of Education is to facilitate access to these remote-based degree programmes for the teaching force employed by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
He went on to say that “The Ministry of Education envisages the registration of an initial cohort of 25 teachers to the OUT Bachelor’s Degree programme covering the above disciplines, and including also special needs teaching techniques”.
On his part, the Ambassador of Tanzania to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO stated that his country, through its Open University, was committed to the swift and full implementation of the programme. He said the programme will not only uplift the skills of the intended beneficiaries; it will also enhance cooperation between the two countries. He pledged the Embassy’s full support towards the implementation of the contents of the MOU.
Commenting on this development, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms. Stefania Giannini, stated: “I am pleased to see the results of UNESCO’s support to St Kitts and Nevis through the years. The development of a national qualification framework for teachers and a national teacher council have set the basis for the professionalization of teaching. We wish the Federation every success with their new opportunities for teacher professional development.”
Newly-appointed Secretary-General of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Commission for UNESCO in Basseterre, Ambassador Nerys Dockery, welcomed the Federation’s agreement with the OUT, saying: “This initiative is highly commendable and is the culmination of years of diligent planning under the wise supervision of former Secretary General Ms. Dorothy Warner. I am pleased to be charged with continuing the engagement with officials in the Open University of Tanzania with a view to deepening the partnership to the benefit of the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan. I wish the first cohort of student teachers all the very best as they blaze a trail for others to follow.”
Ambassador Doyle, based at UNESCO in Paris commented: “The OUT agreement is not only a poignant example of successful South-South and triangular development practices, pioneered by UNESCO, but could be replicated by the 38-strong small island developing states as a basis for elevating the basic teachers’ professional qualifications, thus contributing to the delivery of quality education for all”
