AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE
UMOJA WA AFRIKA
UNIÃO AFRICANA
UNIÓN AFRICANA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Launch of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034) and the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED 2025)
Theme:
“Advancing Strategies for Teacher Training, Recognition and Professional Development”
COMMUNIQUÉ
Venue: AUC Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3rd October 2025
1. Preamble
1.1. The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), in close collaboration with AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), CESA Teacher Development Clusters, teacher education institutions, partners, teacher unions and civil society, convened for the historic Launch of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034) and the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED) 2025, under the theme: “Advancing Strategies for Teacher Training, Recognition, and Professional Development.”
1.2. Anchored in the aspirations of Agenda 2063, the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 4, and the strategic direction of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 26–35), we reaffirm that transforming education in Africa requires bold, inclusive, and datainformed approaches, underpinned by a revitalised and empowered teaching profession.
1.3. Convened from 1 to 3 October 2025 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the event represented a landmark moment in mobilising collective continental action to place quality teaching, inclusive learning, skills development, and the professionalisation of the teaching workforce at the heart of Africa’s education transformation agenda.
2. Context
2.1. The African Union Decade for Education and Skills (2025–2034) is a continental initiative dedicated to accelerating investments, implementation, and impact in transforming education systems to meet the aspirations of African citizens, economies, and societies. Central to this vision is the transformation of the teaching profession, which remains the most critical enabler of inclusive, relevant, and high-quality learning outcomes.
2.2. PACTED 2025 served as the inaugural flagship event of the Decade, creating a continental platform to galvanize momentum, share innovations, and forge commitments around teacher supply, development, recognition, health, and mobility in Africa. The
conference featured high-level policy dialogue, evidence-based presentations, and dedicated breakout sessions focused on the systemic transformation of teacher education in Africa.
2.3. The Launch of the AU Decade of Education and PACTED 2025 align with the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 26–35), the Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategy (CTVET-34), and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-34).
2.4. They reinforce the AU Agenda 2063, the SDG4-Education 2030 Framework for Action, and other global and continental frameworks prioritizing teacher recognition, foundational learning, digital capacity, gender-responsive and inclusive education systems.
3. Objectives
3.1. The launch of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034), alongside the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED 2025), sought to catalyse a renewed commitment towards inclusive, innovative, and impactful education systems across the continent under the theme “Advancing Strategies for Teacher Training, Recognition and Professional Development,” with the following specific objectives:
3.1.1. To officially launch the AU Decade of Education (2025–2034) as a continental rallying call for renewed investment, innovation, and accountability in education and skills development across Africa.
3.1.2. To examine continental and national teacher development strategies, and explore innovative, evidence-based and context-responsive approaches for improving the recruitment and retention of teachers by a sharper focus on training, mentoring, support, motivation, health, deployment, and professional growth.
3.1.3. To accelerate the implementation and domestication of the Continental Teacher Qualification Framework (CTQF) and the Continental Framework for Standards and Competences for the Teaching Profession (CFSCTP) across Member States.
3.1.4. To amplify the voices of teachers in shaping policies and programs that affect the profession.
3.1.5. To celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, including the AU Continental Teachers Awards Ceremony.
3.1.6. To launch the Africa Teachers Forum (ATF) Digital Platform to enhance collaboration and professional growth among African teachers.
4. Key Highlights and Outcomes
4.1. The launch of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034), held in conjunction with the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED 2025), marked a pivotal milestone in advancing continental efforts to strengthen teacher development and education systems.
4.2. The event brought together AU Member States, education stakeholders, teacher unions and partners to reaffirm the centrality of teachers in Africa’s education agenda with the following Key Highlights:
4.2.1. High-Level Declarations and Endorsements including the official proclamation of the AU Decade of Education (2025–2034).
4.2.2. Thematic Breakout Discussions on innovation in teacher education, policy coherence, health and motivation, and amplifying teacher voices.
4.2.3. Launch of the Africa Teachers Forum (ATF), African Teacher Workforce Bank (ATWB), and the Teachers’ Community of Practice (CoP).
4.2.4. Recognition and Celebration through the AU Continental Teachers Awards 2025 and World Teachers’ Day 2025.
5. Strategic Partnerships and Resource Commitments by AU Member States, RECs and development partners AU Continental Teachers’ Awards
5.1. As an initiative to honour excellence in the teaching profession, the AU Continental Teachers Awards formed a key highlight of the Launch of the African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034) and the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED 2025).
5.2. The Awards celebrated outstanding educators from across AU Member States who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, innovation, and impact in advancing inclusive and quality education.
5.3. The awardees, representing diverse regions and educational contexts, were recognised not only for their dedication to learners but also for embodying the values of professional excellence and lifelong learning.
5.4. Their achievements serve as a powerful testament to the transformative role of teachers and a continental call to uplift, value, and invest in the teaching profession as a cornerstone of Africa’s educational renaissance.
6. Awardees:
1. Jepkosgei Chemoiwa - Kenya/East Africa.
2. Sachitanand Ramdhonee - Mauritius/East Africa.
3. Ntombozuko Mkizwana Zuki - South Africa/Southern Africa.
4. Jama Robert - Botswana/Southern Africa.
5. Peace Salamatu Sule - Nigeria/West Africa.
6. Allen A Thomas - Liberia/West Africa.
7. Sebahashi Jean-Paul Habiyambere - DRC/Central Africa.
8. Chaabane Naoures - Tunisia/North Africa.
9. Mohamed Mabrouk Elwan Ahmed - Egypt/North Africa.
7. Way Forward and Recommendations
The outcomes of PACTED 2025 will inform the Continental Roadmap for Teacher Development within the AU Education Decade (2025–2034), under Strategic Area 2: Teachers, Educators, and Caregivers of CESA 26–35.
7.1. The AU Commission will:
7.1.1. Continue to convene the annual celebration of the AU Continental Teachers’ Awards and other annual Teacher Development Forums.
7.1.2. Support Member States through technical assistance to Strengthen national adoption and implementation of CTQF, CFSCTP, and ATWB.
7.1.3. Enhance coordination with RECs, teacher unions, and training institutions to promote inclusive teacher development policies.
7.1.4. Publish an annual AU Teachers Status Report starting 2026 and scale up the Africa Teachers Forum (ATF).
7.1.5. Ensure sustainable financing for teacher education and development through advocacy in STC-EST Meetings and Heads of State Summits.
7.1.6. Institutionalize the AU Decade of Education (2025–2034) through national roadmaps and monitoring systems.
7.2. Member States will:
7.2.1. To allocate at least 20 % of the national budget and/or at least 6% of GDP to education.
7.2.2. To invest in the training, recruitment and continuous professional development of teachers.
7.2.3. To improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession by ensuring decent salaries and working conditions for all educators, including those in rural and remote areas.
7.2.4. To ensure the provision of adequate, safe, disability and child-friendly school infrastructure, teaching and learning resources.
7.2.5. To involve educators and their unions in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of education policy.
7.2.6. To implement the Recommendations of the UN High Level Panel on the Teaching Profession.
8. Appreciation
8.1. The African Union Commission expresses sincere gratitude to the Government and the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education,
Republic of Malawi and AU Chair of STC-EST5; Minister of Education, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; all Member States, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, teacher unions, civil society, youth, and the teaching community for their active participation and unwavering commitment.
9. Conclusion
9.1. The African Union Decade of Education and Skills is more than a call to action; it is a unifying continental movement for transformative change. At the heart of this transformation are teachers, whose role is indispensable in shaping the future of Africa. The successful convening reaffirmed their centrality and underscored the urgent need for sustained commitments from all education stakeholders. It calls for collective dedication to empowering every teacher, investing in every learner, and strengthening resilient, inclusive, and future-ready education systems that will advance the realisation of the Africa We Want.
9.2. The African Union remains committed to leading a bold, unified and inclusive transformation of Africa’s education systems, with teachers at the centre. The launch of the AU Decade of Education (2025–2034) and the convening of PACTED 2025 mark a critical turning point in redefining education as a tool for dignity, prosperity, innovation, and social cohesion.
9.3. The African Union Commission further calls upon all stakeholders, Member States, RECs, partners, civil society, teacher unions and educators to act with urgency, ambition, and solidarity to ensure that no teacher is left behind and every learner thrives.
Adopted: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 3 October 2025
African Union Commission, Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation