PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mauritius: Distance education experts in Africa meet in Mauritius
Réduit, Mauritius (PANA) - Over 175 delegates from about 20 African and European countries are attending a three-day conference which opened here Wednesday to debate the challenges that African countries face in promoting and expanding quality distance education.
Mauritian Education, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Minister, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, called on the delegates to use the conference as a platform for generating fresh ideas, for questioning established practices and beliefs, and for bringing the community of practitioners together "to make fresh voices heard so that we may undertake a major step forward in re-thinking and re-conceptualizing education systems in Africa.”
Stressing the need for developing education on sound pillars, she said, "It is true that the Education for All goals have not all been met in Africa. But this is the chance for us to take stock of the situation and to pave the way forward.”
According to Dookun-Luchoomun, education has different voices, different perspectives and views and “it is important that we remain in constant dialogue with one another.”
The minister added: “One of the premises is that Africa is well placed not to rely exclusively on the theories emanating from the West. Indeed, African solutions to African problems are likely to be more contextually relevant."
The Distance Education and Teachers Learning Conference has been organized by the Mauritius Institute of Education in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and the South African Institute for Distance Education.
-0- PANA NA/AR 22July2015
Mauritian Education, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Minister, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, called on the delegates to use the conference as a platform for generating fresh ideas, for questioning established practices and beliefs, and for bringing the community of practitioners together "to make fresh voices heard so that we may undertake a major step forward in re-thinking and re-conceptualizing education systems in Africa.”
Stressing the need for developing education on sound pillars, she said, "It is true that the Education for All goals have not all been met in Africa. But this is the chance for us to take stock of the situation and to pave the way forward.”
According to Dookun-Luchoomun, education has different voices, different perspectives and views and “it is important that we remain in constant dialogue with one another.”
The minister added: “One of the premises is that Africa is well placed not to rely exclusively on the theories emanating from the West. Indeed, African solutions to African problems are likely to be more contextually relevant."
The Distance Education and Teachers Learning Conference has been organized by the Mauritius Institute of Education in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and the South African Institute for Distance Education.
-0- PANA NA/AR 22July2015
