By Yamikani Yapuwa
Blantyre, June 14, Mana: Ministers Responsible for Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation (ET-STI) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will held a joint meeting in Lilongwe Friday 10th June.
A press release published on SADC website on Monday said the meeting will be chaired by Malawi’s Minister of Education Agness NyaLonje.
“The Ministers will review the progress made on the implementation of the Protocols on Science, Technology and Innovation and Education respectively which aims to foster cooperation and promote partnerships in the areas of science, technology and innovation (STI) and education in the region,” reads the statement.
In addition, the ministers will be following up on policy decisions made and the implementation of on-going programmes and initiatives in the Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation sectors, in relation to the priorities of the SADC Revised Regional Strategic Indicative Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020 and RISDP 2021-2030.
The press release further said that among key agenda items, the Ministers will be appraised on the Follow-Up Report on SADC Member States Education Sector Response to Covid-19, which is a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in the SADC region during the second and third waves of the pandemic
“The Ministers will deliberate on the progress on the Educational for Sustainable Strategic Framework, and the SADC Qualifications Framework amongst others.
“The meeting will also review the implementation of SADC Charter on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Organization, aimed at strengthening the regions ability to collaborate in science, technology and innovation and promote women’s access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
“The meeting will also consider a number of policy instruments in the area of indigenous knowledge systems,” said SADC in the statement.
The meeting will feature parallel sessions hosted back to back between ministers and top government officials, an exhibition and a virtual tour of the newly established Malawi High Performance Computing System.
