The UKFIET (United Kingdom Forum for International Education and Training) Conference is a global stage where educators, policymakers and organisations regularly converge to explore the challenges and opportunities in international education. The 2023 edition, themed 'Education for Social and Environmental Justice: Diversity, Sustainability, Responsibility,' served as a beacon of hope for transformative education. Among the contributors, VVOB - education for development shared presentations and position papers that shed light on key issues in education and sustainability.
Mwimbu Ngoma, Dr. Grace Mwaura and Hans De Greve - colleagues from three VVOB offices (Zambia, Uganda and Belgium) played a prominent role at the UKFIET Conference 2023. They did not only participate but also delivered impactful presentations, contributing to the discourse surrounding international education.
Presentation Highlights
VVOB's contributions spanned a diverse range of topics:
- Pedagogies of Play in Zambia: VVOB presented the results of an impact evaluation of early childhood teacher training in Zambia, emphasizing the transformative power of play-based pedagogies. Effective teacher training was highlighted as a crucial component of nurturing young minds.
- Youth Aspirations in Uganda: The position paper tackled a significant but often overlooked aspect of education - the aspirations of youth in Ordinary Level (O-Level) schools in Uganda. The paper underscored the importance of empowering youth to shape their own futures
- Climate Change Education in South Africa: VVOB discussed the imperative of incorporating climate change education into classroom practices in South African secondary schools, fostering environmental responsibility among youth.
- Systems Readiness for Quality Play-Based Early Childhood Education in Africa: The presentation focused on readiness assessment tools for institutionalizing and scaling quality play-based early childhood education across diverse African contexts.
With its thematic focus on diversity, sustainability and responsibility, the conference reconfirmed the pivotal role of education in shaping a just and sustainable future for all.
The collaborative efforts of educators, policymakers and organisations are paramount in creating an educational landscape that fosters social justice, environmental consciousness and personal growth.
