Japan signs the Mutual Accountability Framework for Education and Skills Development Sector

 

On 11th September 2012, His Excellency Mr. Akio EGAWA, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, signed, on behalf of the Government of Japan, the Mutual Accountability Framework between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Cooperating Partners in the Education and Skills Development Sector, with Honourable Dr. John Phiri, Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, MP, along with other Cooperating Partners (CPs) including the Government of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the United States Agency for International Development, UNICEF, the African Development Bank, and Irish Aid.

The Mutual Accountability Framework serves as the guiding instrument of cooperation between the Ministry and the CPs during the implementation of the Third National Implementation Framework of the Education Sector (NIF III) through to 2015, which provides a framework for the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to better contribute to the realisation of the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) goals.


The Government of the Republic of Zambia recognises the education as one of the priority areas for increased investment during the period of the SNDP. The signing of the Mutual Accountability Framework signifies a renewed partnership between the Government and the CPs for the development of education, and it is envisaged that the combined efforts will foster quality education in Zambia. It is hoped that their efforts will drive the education sector’s contribution to the achievement of the MDG goals and targets pertaining to education.


Japan and Zambia have a long-standing history of cooperation in the education sector. Since 1981, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dispatched a number of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers to work as teachers, especially in mathematics and science, contributing to the improvement of the quality of education in these fields. Further, since 2005, JICA has been engaged in improving learner’s performance through the technical cooperation project for the “Strengthening of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SMASTE)” and “Strengthening Teacher’s Performance and Skills through School-Based Continuing Professional Development (STEPS)”.

In addition, this year, the Government of Japan and the Government of Zambia signed Exchange of Notes for a grant aid for Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) for the education sector pool fund, which amounts to 300 million Yen, or approximately 4 million US dollars. It is hoped that this PRS Grant will bring about significant improvement of education in Zambia, thereby enhancing the country’s overall economic and social development.

To read the press release jointly released by the Cooperating Partners regarding this ceremony, please click here.

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