The EAC is committed to enhancing access to quality education as a pre-cursor to greater investments in the education sector, specialization and creation of more job opportunities, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa has said.
At the same time, the EALA Speaker is certain that the Inter University Council of East Africa -IUCEA (Amendment) Bill shall soon be brought to the fore of the House for debate to spur accreditation processes in higher education, standardisation and the harmonisation of curricula.
The Speaker made the remarks when she received the Aga Khan Resident Representative in Uganda, H.E. Ambasador Mahmood Ahmed at the Speaker’s Chamber in Arusha this morning.Rt. Hon Zziwa remarked that EALA would continue to support the integration pillars and process through legislation, oversight and representation.
Rt. Hon Zziwa lauded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) for the commitment to the socio-economic development of the region. She cited the work of the AKDN in the various sectors as a perfect example of what Public- Private- Partnerships (PPP) can achieve in East Africa.
The Resident Representative Amb Mahmood Ahmed, remarked that the principles of quality, relevance, impact and access to were key to the work of the AKDN whilst benchmarking against world class standards.
Amb Ahmed maintained that the Aga Khan group was ready and willing to work with the EAC to develop regulations governing accreditation and harmonisation of curricula in the education sector if so called upon.
‘Rt. Hon Speaker I assure you that we can collaborate by looking into a number of key areas including accreditation, standardisation and quality for the betterment of education standards in the EAC region,’ Amb. Ahmed stated.
In attendance was the AKDN Liaison Officer, Ms. Erfa Alani. The Resident Representative is in the country to oversee the various projects and programmes of the Network. The Network is a group of development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities.
Later on this evening, a function to introduce the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees takes place right here in Arusha.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)
AKDN, which was founded by High Highness the Aga Khan, is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working together to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities.
The Network’s nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion with an underlying passion for the under privileged and vulnerable people in the society. Its annual budget for philanthropic activity is in excess of $600 million.
AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1983, the University’s objective is “to be on the frontiers of scientific and humanistic knowledge” while inspiring students to be independent learners and researchers imbued with a spirit of service and respect for others. In the years since its founding, Aga Khan University’s major focus has been in the fields of health and education. For the decades ahead the University plans to step beyond success in these areas and become a more diversified university, both geographically and scholastically.
The University currently has programmes in eight countries spread over three continents. In East Africa, the University offers Advanced Nursing Studies programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; and Postgraduate Medical Education in Kenya and Tanzania.
These programmes are supported by a 250-bed teaching hospital, the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. The Institute for Educational Development, East Africa offers Master of Education degrees and certificate courses out of Dar es Salaam. In Pakistan, there is a Medical College; a School of Nursing; and a 560-bed teaching hospital.
A Faculty of Health Sciences and a Graduate School of Media and Communication are being established in Nairobi whilst the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will be established in Arusha as well as in Karachi.
ENDS
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For More Information, contact:
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly;
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036
