This is the 10th blog post published in 2018 as part of the collaborative effort launched in 2017 between the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
The first World Teachers' Day was held on 5 October 1994. This important day celebrates the role teachers play in providing quality education at all levels. This enables children and adults of all ages to learn to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society.
World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.
The 2018 theme “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher” was chosen to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), where education is recognized as a key fundamental right. A right that cannot be fulfilled without qualified teachers.
ICQN Network: a core mechanism for action and engagement
In keeping with its vision of a high quality African education and training system that is geared towards the promotion of critical knowledge, skills and attitude for accelerated and sustainable development in Africa, ADEA has put in place numerous mechanisms for action and engagement.
Among these are the Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) which have been set up following the recommendations of the 2003 and 2006 Biennales to build capacity in Africa through the sharing of knowledge and innovative educational experiences among peers.
These recommendations have been crystalized in the ADEA “Strategic Policy Framework” approved and adopted by Heads of State of the African Union at the 2013 Summit in Addis Ababa.
This key conference stressed that the promotion of critical skills needed for accelerated sustainable development in Africa can be achieved through establishing strategic partnerships among African countries for the exchange and sharing of knowledge and experiences.
An Inter-Country Quality Node (ICQN) is a platform - whose creation is facilitated by ADEA - hosted by a champion country for exchange of experiences and a community of practice that brings together its members around commonly shared education and training challenges.