By Eddah Waithaka
Education Ministers and senior officials are set to gather in London for the 22nd Commonwealth Conference of Education Ministers (22CCEM), scheduled to run from 16-17 May.
Taking place at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Marlborough House headquarters, the conference will discuss ways to further empower the Commonwealth’s 2.6 billion citizens with inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all skill levels and life stages.
Government ministers and senior officials will also exchange ideas on how to address uncertainties in education funding, explore partnerships, and discuss commitments and reforms.
They will assess the current state of the education sector, while developing a roadmap for accelerated progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4, and discuss the strategic actions needed to address educational inequality, especially for young people, women, people with disabilities and those living in poverty.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has urged ministers to remove barriers to education and encourage lifelong learning, in line with this year’s theme of ‘Driving Resilience, Equity and Skills for an Inclusive Future’.
“The sheer scale of what can be achieved by harnessing technology has changed the game for policymakers, educators and learners. To meaningfully empower Commonwealth citizens in an increasingly digital world, we must be bold in our actions and ambitions,” said Scotland.
“We need to rethink education to support youth employability and empowerment if we are to deliver on our promises to the Commonwealth’s 1.6 billion young people. We should also recognise that education does not end with young people. We have a shared responsibility to create and promote opportunities for lifelong learning,” she added.
The 22nd CCEM meeting, which will be chaired by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, also resonates with the focus of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi is expected to address the event and engage with delegates as well as speakers from UNESCO, the World Bank, the Commonwealth of Learning, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and regional bodies.
During the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Prof Colin Riordan, will also update delegates on the various initiatives and work programmes being undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat to support member countries.
