UNESCO, China extend ICT training programme for teachers across 10 African countries

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and China have launched a second phase of the project to provide Information & Communications Technology (ICT) training for educators across 10 countries of the continent. The programme is under the UNESCO/ChinaFunds-in-Trust (CFIT), which harnesses technology for quality teacher training in Africa.

The first phase of the CFIT project (2012 – 2016) operated a budget of $8 million. Over 100 training workshops were organised across eight countries which includes, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Namibia, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Capacity training was provided to empower approximately 10,000 teachers. In addition, 230 training modules and policy documents were revised and institutionalised. More than 2,400 equipment were procured and installed with seven online platforms and three digital libraries linking 30 teacher-training institutions.

The second phase commencing this year, will see the addition of two more countries; Togo and Zambia. The Chinese government will provide $4 million to extend the second phase of the training from 2017 to 2018. The project is a UNESCO initiative to accelerate progress in quality education and innovation in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).