13 June 2022, Gaborone, Botswana

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene a Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation (ET-STI) from 14-17 June 2022 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The objective of the meeting is to follow up on the policy decisions made and the implementation of on-going programmes and initiatives in the Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation sectors, particularly in relation to the priorities of the SADC Revised Regional Strategic Indicative Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020 and RISDP 2021-2030.

The Ministers will also review the progress made on the implementation of the Protocols on Science, Technology and Innovation and Education respectively which aims to foster cooperation and promote partnerships in the areas of science, technology and innovation (STI) and education in the region. Among key agenda items, the Ministers will be appraised on the Follow-Up Report on SADC Member States Education Sector Response to Covid-19, which is a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in the SADC region during the second and third waves of the pandemic.

Ministers will deliberate on the progress on the Educational for Sustainable Strategic Framework, and the SADC Qualifications Framework amongst others. The meeting will review the implementation of SADC Charter on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Organization, aimed at strengthening the regions ability to collaborate in science, technology and innovation and promote women’s access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

The meeting will also consider a number of policy instruments in the area of indigenous knowledge systems. The Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers will be chaired by Honourable Agnes NyaLonje, the Minister of Education of the Republic of Malawi and will be preceded by the Meeting of the SADC Senior Officials which will take place from 14-16 June 2022. The meeting will feature parallel sessions hosted back to back, an exhibition and a virtual tour of the newly established Malawi High Performance Computing System.

For enquiries: Ms. Barbara Lopi, Head of Communication and Public Relations, Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Ms. Nelao Sheila Haimbodi, Communications Officer email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..