BOTEPCO in Lusaka for AFTRA roundtable

Botswana Teaching Professionals Council delegation comprising of the Registrar and Board members is currently attending the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities ( AFTRA)’ s 11th Conference and 13th Roundtable, in Lusaka, Zambia hosted by the Ministry of Education Zambia, and the Teaching Council of Zambia. e delegation is led by BOTEPCO registrar Dr. Raphael Dingalo and the Board Chairperson Selang Mogatwane and also includes members of the BOTEPCO Board.

Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities [ AFTRA] is the intergovernmental apex regulatory authority for the teaching profession in Africa. It comprises the Ministries of Education and national agencies regulating teaching in the continent. Inaugurated in 2010 by the Ministers of Education, the key mandates are to ensure that teaching is regulated like other noble professions, and that teachers are of high quality and enjoy recognition and high social status comparable to their peers anywhere in the world. AFTRA coordinates the national regulatory activities of the teaching profession in all African Union Member States. Based on these mandates, AFTRA annually organizes a conference that stands out as the most impactful and popular summit for charting the way forward for the teaching profession in Africa. e AFTRA conference draws delegates, speakers and participants from across Africa and other regions of the world. ese include the Ministers of Education, Directors from the Ministries of Education, Chief Executive O cers of national teaching regulatory authorities, African Union Commission, UNESCO, Paris/ International Task Force on Teachers and UNESCO agencies like the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, Commonwealth of Learning, Education International, renowned scholars from the academia, leadership of the teacher unions, industry experts and many more. e conference features remarkable programmes such as the Opening Ceremony which was o ciated by the Zambia Vice President Her Honor Mrs. Mutale Nalumango on the 7th May, 2024, conferment of AFTRA’s Gold Medal on the President of the host country; a session for the Ministers of Education in Africa and heads of international organizations; and an intercontinental session where experts beyond Africa make technical presentations. e Botswana Teaching Professional’s Council ( BOTEPCO) is a newly established Body Corporate mandated to professionalize teaching by: maintaining professional and ethical standards; registering and licensing teachers; advocating for the teaching profession amongst others.