The Second cohort of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) was officially launched by Academic Registrar, Mr Alfred Masikye Namoah at a function held on 15th October 2010 at the University Guest House.

The Second cohort of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) was officially launched by Academic Registrar, Mr Alfred Masikye Namoah at a function held on 15th October 2010 at the University Guest House.

Makerere University was selected by the UNESCO-IIEP to host its Distance Education Programme on Education Sector Planning. The programme, based at The East African Institute of Higher Education Studies and Human Resource Development (EAIHESD), School of Education is facilitated by Mr. Mr John Wabwire, Director Planning and Development Department (PDD), who also doubles as its National Coordinator.

“This programme which is delivered by the Distance Education mode was conceived by UNESCO, and is funded by the World Bank,” remarked Mr. Wabwire. “This programme was in response to Human Resource gaps identified by UNESCO in the area of Education Sector Planning.” He added.

The programme which is run in six Anglophone countries namely; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia and Malawi lasts nine months. The six modules covered by participants (one more than last year) include: Context and Approaches to planning in Education; Education Statistics; Education Sector Diagnosis; Analyzing policy choices in Education; Simulation Models; Monitoring and Evaluation; and a capstone course. The capstone course requires participants to critically analyze a subsector of Education in their country, by identifying its weaknesses and strong points. Participants are then required to prescribe solutions based on their findings. The capstone course carries more weight than other modules of the course.

The participants also have an electronic platform on which they share ideas across all six countries. In addition, all participants converge for an annual conference in a member country so as to share experiences and sharpen their approaches to simulations and models. Last year’s conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The IIEP also held a workshop with over 31 Ugandan Government officials from 16th – 18th March 2010, aimed at developing guidelines for emergency preparedness and conflict mitigation for the education sector.

In his address, the Chief Guest and Academic Registrar Mr. Alfred Masikye Namoah commended the participants for their dedication to the demanding course. In response to the participants’ request to upgrade the course to a Diploma, the Academic Registrar challenged EAIHESD to come up with a curriculum, which can then be considered by the necessary University academic committees.

“The University in its ten-year strategic plan emphasizes partnerships, and this partnership with UNESCO is indeed a realization of the University objectives” said Mr. Namoah. He applauded Mr. Wabwire and Dr. Neema-Abooki Peter, Director EAIHESD for their proactive approaches and pledged the University’s future support to the course.

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mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office