Nairobi to Host African Education Ministers for PASET Conference in April 2024

Nairobi – Kenya is gearing up to host the Conference on Partnerships for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) in April 2024, a key event set to bring together Ministers of Education from 12 African countries.

According to Kenya News Agency, the conference will focus on strategies to enhance Africa’s workforce in support of modern industrial economies on the continent. Under the theme ‘leveraging Technical, Vocational and Technical Training (TVET) in the knowledge and skills ecosystem for Africa’s industrialization,’ the event aims to address crucial skill gaps.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, along with Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala of University Education and Research, and Dr. Esther Muoria of TVET, recently met with development partners to discuss the upcoming conference. The meeting, held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), underscored the acute shortage of skilled manpower in STEM fields across Africa.

PASET, an Africa-led initiative, is dedicated to developing skills for key economic sectors, spanning from upper-secondary/TVET to postgraduate education and research. The program currently includes Rwanda, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Benin, Tanzania, Somalia, Burkina Faso, and Kenya.

UNICEF Representative to Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer, emphasized the importance of nurturing skills from early childhood. The conference will also see participation from international organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, the International Labour Organisation, and UNHCR.

PASET is overseen by African Education Ministers, scientists, development experts, business leaders, and African academics, with facilitation by the World Bank. The Nairobi conference is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the skills and knowledge gaps crucial for Africa’s socio-economic transformation.

The meeting also saw attendance from Chief Executive Officers of State Corporations in the Ministry of Education and senior education officers.