Kigali — Experts from Partner States of the East African Community (EAC) are gearing up efforts towards harmonizing education systems in the region.
At a two-day meeting held in Arusha, on Wednesday, EAC senior officials from the ministries of education discussed harmonization of curricula to increase employment opportunities as well as enhance free movement of labour in the region.
"We discussed harmonization of curricula and education systems like examinations, quality assurance systems and the structure of education from primary to secondary," said Charles Gahima, the Director General of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC).
"What is evident is that there is need for equal recognition of certificates and levels of education in the region."
During the meeting, the senior officials received an inception report on harmonization of the curricular, and they will be meeting again to discuss the final report by the East African Council of Universities.
"We are giving them only two months after which we shall come back and discuss it before its final adoption," Gahima added. The report will highlight the similarities and differences in the education systems of partner states.
According to Gahima, harmonizing education systems will mean that students in East Africa who complete primary or secondary education can easily enroll in any school or university in the region.
He however cautioned that the move will not address uniformity in all aspects, adding that some elements in the education systems of partner states will remain.
"There are aspects that are specifically or contextually for a particular country. For instance Rwanda may be interested in subjects like national reconciliation, Information Communication Technology and Entrepreneurship which may not interest other countries," Gahima said, adding that those that find them good may adopt them.
Currently, the East African region is characterized by unemployment mostly blamed on the different education systems which do not enable equal consideration of academic qualifications by all the five EAC countries.
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One of the reasons why nations like China, Japan, India, the European Union and Arab states have strong economic, cultural and racial domination in their regions HAS TO DO WITH THE METHODS THEY HAVE USED TO UNIFY THEIR PEOPLE.
Language is one method. The other method is the use of an ALPHABET THAT HELPS TO UNIFY THEIR PEOPLE, SO THAT LARGE MASSES OF PEOPLE CAN COMMUNICATE.
See more on this subject, 'Susu and Susunomics," http://www.iuniverse.com
also see 'Afrikuandika: The African Hieroglyphic Writing System,"
http://www.myspace.com/africanalphabet
"Top Twenty African-American Websites,"
http://blackmalepowermovement.forumsland.com/blackmalepowermovement-about14 0.html
THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY SHOULD REVIVE AND MODERNIZE EITHER THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHIC, NUBIAN/CUSH HIEROGLYPHIC, or the system revived in the United States that was carried there by prehistoric Sahara Africans about 3113 B.C., when 'Meci' and his country people sailed in twelve ships and established what is called the 'Olmec,' or 'Manding-Shi' culture. See 'A History of the African-Olmecs: Black Civilizations of America from Prehistoric Times to the Present Era," pub. by http://www.authorhouse.com
It is also important that the EAST AFRICAN UNION develop a strong relationship with some of the best colleges and universities on earth. These are African-American Universities who are in the forefront of every aspect of development suitable for Africa's needs. These include space technology to agriculture.
Nubianem3@webtv.net