KIGALI - The first East African Education Exhibition and Conference that has attracted over 100 institutions of learning from the East African Community (EAC) partner states has opened in Kigali.

The four-day Expo organized under the theme "quality education for intercultural understanding and regional development” brings together various educational institutions from EAC partner states to showcase educational opportunities in the region.

Speaking at the event, The Minister of Education, Dr. Charles Murigande, said that the Expo offers a valuable opportunity for all education stakeholders to witness the progress made, discuss common challenges, share experience and learn from one another in the education domain.

"Education sector in the region has undertaken various initiatives aiming at harmonising curricula and enhancing the quality of education delivered at all levels from primary to higher education,” he said.

Murigande added that education is a powerful tool that can be used to change the world and much can be achieved through it to benefit all the partner states.

He retaliated that there is a lot to learn and share on education opportunities for the citizens in the region since every member state of the bloc will be having unique and fresh contributions to bring to the rest during the exhibition.

Uganda’s Minister of Education and Sports, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, said that education in the EAC faces a number of critical challenges, among them, low levels of literacy and numeracy, poor quality and standards of education.

"During this event, we should analyze the problems, focus on the solutions and share the successes because one government alone cannot solve all the problems member states are facing in the delivery of the education services. It requires partnerships and collective efforts,” she explained.

"This education conference must carry forward the policies and strategies to enhance education standards in the EAC region”

According to Dr. Erasme Rwanamiza, the Chairperson of the Technical Committee of the Expo as well as the Director General in the Ministry of Education, the Expo is a manifestation and combination of efforts from the EAC bloc towards enhancing education through regional exchanges.

Hitiyese Simon Peter the manager Fountain publishers Rwanda and one of the exhibitors, said that is a good opportunity to identify the existing unique education opportunities in the region.

Prof. Thomas W. Sakwa, a Professor of Physics at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya, noted that it was a big step towards promoting the education sector in the region.

Participants at the expo include primary schools, secondary schools, higher colleges (including TVET institutions), higher learning institutions, private sector firms and companies dealing in areas that support education service delivery and education funding agencies and as well as senior education officials from the ministries of the partner states.

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