Program: 11:00 AM Est – 1:30PM Est  Rapporteur: Prof Marie Umeh    Prof of English, CUNY

 11:05AM

Opening Introduction and Presentation:  Dr. Ada JUNI Okika, Executive Director, Center for SDG Global Education USA/ Global Director, Centre for Transformative Advancement of Development for Africa, CTADA

  Chair: H. E Ambassador Dr Denis Antoine, Former Vice President, UNGA69 Session

 11:20AM:   Traditional Education Curriculum

 Discussants:

His Royal Majesty, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola, the Adimula of Ifewara  (OGOGO 11)

His Excellency, Ambassador Dr Lloyd Lucien Pinas, Former Ambassador of Suriname to China

 With the emergence of the New Normal, education, teaching and learning is gradually adjusting to the use of modern technologies on grounds of modern curriculum. However, the traditional learning tools, and teaching methods seems to be going out of school system, yet the Development Agenda leaves a footprint on “Leaving No One Behind.” It seems therefore we have moved from the concrete traditional learning tools towards conventional digital learning.The action towards teaching and learning resources from our cultural background are needed to revitalize education in community environment especially in developing countries. At the Education Solutions at UNGA76 Sessions Forum, the expert discussion will harness the significant importance of traditional education, enshrine into quality and inclusive education especially in rebuilding quality, inclusive education and revitalize community classroom.  The discussion will highlight traditional educational tools, traditional policies, rulership, and quality education in community.

11:50 AM:  Teachers and Professional Wellbeing

Discussant:

Her Worship Sheran Palacio, Mayor, City of Belmopan, Belize

Jessica Kuo,   Federation of World Peace and Love

To “Rebuild Quality, Inclusive Education and Revitalize Community Classroom in Post COVID19 Recovery requires the overall inclusion of teachers and teaching services. To achieve success, teachers’ welfare, development, and wellbeing must be made a priority especially if concerns on community education is considered a necessity to community development. Lack of adequate concern on teachers’ wellbeing and development will lead to low morale and career interest teaching and learning in community classroom in greater percentage.

Discussion on “Teachers and Professional Wellbeing, (pedagogy) is hoped to highlight; opportunities for teachers and educators to reconnect, heal, and feel safe and supported, offer ways for educators to assess their well-being and cultivate self-care strategies, provide educators with professional development that supports student teaching and learning ability, and connection. It will also recognize the knowledge interpersonal skills for communal harmony in learning environment within the community classroom.

12:20PM: Digital Education and Technology                      

Discussants:

Dr. Shivaji Sengupta, R������������������ VP Academic Affairs, Boricua College/ Professor of English

Engr Chuma Menakaya, Director, Outreach /UN Representative, Barr JUNI and Irene Menakaya Foundation Intl

With the entrance of COVID19 pandemic and the global lockdown and shutdown of school, halting education system across the world, experts went into critical thinking on “education next”. Teaching and learning through internet and computer technology became a New Normal on education.Education Solutions at UNGA76 Session seeks the role and future of education and skills in the digital world, identifying important digital skills needed for critical thinking of developing now and in the future. It explores how teaching and learning have access to education on digital skills, how we think about formal education and how our thinking needs to evolve with the increasing adoption of digital tools and technologies in teaching and learning world.The Education Solutions at UNGA will recommend a framework to ensure an inclusive education in an increasingly digital world and suggests roles for different stakeholders to ensure that this becomes a reality. Discussion will highlight role of digital education and technologies as an effective tool to make learning more adaptive and flexible in community classroom.

 

12:50PM: Education, Innovation, and Infrastructure for quality education in community classroom
Discussants:  

 Eng. Anke Weisheit,  Co-Founder and Chair, Innovation & Business Management, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda

Prof Geoffrey Mahlomaholo, Research Professor of Education, University of Mpumalanga, SA

Rebuild Quality, Inclusive Education and Revitalize Community Classroom in Post COVID19 Recovery reflects on the relevance of teaching and learning infrastructure for quality education in community classroom.It also seeks to explore key issues such as access to safe and healthy school places, better spaces for learning, maximizing the benefits of pedagogy and the school-community relationship.

The session will further provide learning innovation that will enable mindset development and self-reflection, ask open-ended questions, create flexible learning environments, inform on personality matters towards creating a place for all learners, allow students take risks and fail, invite entrepreneurs and innovators into the classroom, and adopt the design-thinking of the mind to develop the intellectual learning skills.

1:20PM: Funding for Sustainable Quality and Inclusive Education

Discussant:

Prof Joe Omeokwe   Professor, Mathematics Depart, Baruch College NY

Teaching and learning in community classroom recognize students who are hungry, can't see the blackboard, can’t provide for themselves necessary teaching and learning materials, face critical obstacles to learning in the classroom. Community classrooms education are such that cannot provide available resources to ensure adequate pedagogy and teachers wellbeing.Funding for sustainable quality and inclusive can lower barriers to learning, enable teachers’ incentives and wellbeing and help students succeed greatly. Through a coordinated approach, funding for community classroom seek to increase opportunities for community dwellers in developing countries through partnerships with funding organization and community-based organizations (CBOs) to offer a "whole child, whole community" approach, looking holistically at teachers, students, families, and communities to ascertain their most pressing needs and provide tailored supports and services.

1:30PM: Discussants One-Minute Contribution Outcome from Discussants and Closing Remarks by H. E Ambassador Denis Antoine

Conclusion

The outcome from this Forum will tend to produce objective, goals, and action steps on how we can move from concrete to propose action towards quality and inclusive education for lifelong learning in community. The Outcome will further commence an initiative to the mission of Nigeria to the United Nations to propose an action-oriented project that could step up global awareness on Leave No One Behind with respect to bridging the gaps on education in community classroom.

The outcome will further respond to the theme of the UNGA76 Sessions to “Rebuild Quality, Inclusive Education and Revitalize Community Classroom in Post COVID19 Recovery”.

Inputs to Strategic Action Plans to 2020 Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series:

 Outcome of the COVID19 After Lockdown Preparedness-2020 Day of African Child organized by Africana Women Working Group at the United Nations New York and Center For SDG Global Education USA, June 16, 2020 through Zoom Conference

Preamble:

We the participants at the COVID19: After Lockdown Preparedness- 2020 Day of African Child would like to submit the following document on the event held on  June 16,2020 through ZOOM, organized by Africana Women Working Group at the United Nations and the Center for SDG Global Education USA  with the Africa Cultural Promotions Inc., Miss CARICOM Foundation Intl, CICA International University and Seminary, Sub Saharan Open University, Tomorrows Women Development Organization, MacBan Arts and Bar JUNI and Irene Menakaya Foundation Intl.

After summarizing the remarks and presentations made at the conference by distinguished scholars speakers and panelists including youth, children and representatives from the six regions of the world, participating organizations, practitioners and providers, senior diplomats, social workers, humanitarians and health experts, the following report was compiled reflecting on COVID19 pandemic, concerns on health, education and child friendly justice of African Child.

 

Background:

As governments around the world take urgent steps to save lives, protect livelihoods and plan to ease the lockdown on the COVID-19 pandemic, our organizations and partners have stepped up to this challenge by planning a free online conference ‘Education on COVID-19 After Lockdown Preparedness." The aim is to enact an action plan and set the scene for community health and wellbeing preparedness during and after COVID-19 Lock-Down.

The Education Solutions Classroom Academy (ESCA) Series has taken the vehicle of its action delivery to create content for community education, reduce emerging self-stigma, negative emotional health and to build healthy confidence in the minds of people while strengthening the education, economic and healthy wellbeing.

The Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series in furthering this initiative on the COVID19: After Lockdown Preparedness take to discussion on Education on COVID-19 After Lockdown Preparedness and 2020 Day of the African Child on the theme: “Education, Health and Access to Child Friendly Justice for African Child”,

The purpose is to highlight through discussions and expert presentations the:

• COVID19 and the African Child: Challenges and Issues
• COVID19 and Commemorating the Day of the African Child
• African Lessons and Understanding on the African Child
• Dignity of the African Child: the Perspective by African Children
• Position of the Global 2030 Agenda
• Call to Action for 2020 Day of the African Child
• Vehicle of Delivery for Education, Health and Access to Child friendly Justice of the African Child

The Zoom Conference joined the global community in commemorating the 2020 Day of the African Child, launch a digital re-engineering system as vehicle of delivery for a New Normal on quality, inclusive and sustainable education for African children at all levels of education. The conference further responded to COVID19 issues hinging on the Rights and Welfare of the African child and has come up with outcomes on child based approach that explains Rights of the African child in realizing a Child Friendly Justice system for all African children.

Impact

COVID-19 is not only challenging global health systems but testing our common humanity. It affects everyone everywhere, including children of Africa and African Communities yet it hits the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest, deepening existing inequalities. Social, political and economic inequalities are amplifying the impacts of the pandemic.

The global community needs to be reminded that human health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters and relevant at all levels. Further still, the integrative wellbeing of African Children in situations of COVID19 and other pandemic calls for the need to ensure that existing mechanisms embrace the best interest of the child and their right to education, good health, social and wellbeing, their right to live, survive and develop their inherent traits and build a sustainable future,

 

The recognition of  the global lockdown across nations and the United Nations member States, the closure of the diplomatic administrative  Headquarters, the clarion call of Country Presidents to national health safety, the committed efforts to produce acceptable vaccine and medication, the integrative effort of the global community to ensure safety of world people, the continued effort of the WHO to ensure application of universal standard on healthy humanity and the decision to convene Education Solution Classroom Academy Series on COVID 19: After Lock Down Preparedness-Day of the African Child focusing on Education, Health and Access to Child Friendly Justice of the African Child”, reiterates the African regional and global commitment to rethink about the future and advance new modes of transformation and sustainability of the future of the African Child  that can impact global connectivity in combating disparity.

The Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series 11

The Education Solution Classroom Academy Series 11 is timely and crucial as it has laid the foundation to create a roadmap on right to quality and Inclusive education, sustainable health and wellbeing and child friendly justice of the African child during and after COVID-19 Lock-Down.

In addition, as governments around the world take urgent action to save lives, protect livelihoods from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plan to ease the Lock Down, our organizations and partners have stepped up to this challenge by holding the Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series 11 to join the global community to commemorate the 2020 Day of the African Child and discuss the forward action in favor of the African child in times of emerging pandemic. The purpose is to highlight through discussions and expert presentations the:

• COVID19 and the African Child: Challenges and Issues
• COVID19 and Commemorating the Day of African Child
• African Lessons and Understanding on African Child
• Dignity of African Child: the Perspective by African Children
• Position of the Global 2030 Agenda
• Call to Action for 2020 Day of African Child
• Vehicle of Delivery for Education, Health and Access to Child friendly Justice for African Child

 

The zoom conference in addition to the commemoration of the Day of the African Child launched a digital re-engineering system as vehicle of delivery for a New Normal on quality, inclusive and sustainable education for African children at all levels of education. The conference further responded to COVID19 issues hinging on the Rights and Welfare of the African child and has come up with expected outcomes on child based approach that explains Rights of the African child in realizing a Child Friendly Justice system for all African children of this program is to create content for community education, reduce emerging self-stigma, negative emotional health to build healthy confidence in the minds of people while strengthening economic and human healthy living.

Inputs to Strategic Action Plans.

Introduction

Inputs to Strategic Action Plans to Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series 11 on COVID-19: After Lock-Down Preparedness have scope that impinges on the overall concerns of the African Child from global to national to local and community levels. The conference acknowledged the message received from the office of the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Ms Amina Mohammed “As the world faces the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during this Decade of Action in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is important to recognize children and young people as positive change agents – the leaders of tomorrow.’’

 

Education remains a key area of focus. Together, we must ensure that the African Child is equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to secure a healthy planet and a better world for all, leaving no one behind”.

 

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on COVID19 and the African Child: Challenges and Issues:

• shifting focus towards a child’s empowered life
• leadership values program focusing on community and nation transformation
• need on global perspective on education of the African Child
• Reaffirmed COVID19 consequences and concerns on the African Child
• Noted on the adverse effect on social economic and humanitarian crisis
• Considered the adverse effect on education of children in Africa
• Called on the need to tackle issues hindering African children from reaching their inherent potentials
• African Union to  consider the social determinants of health and need to adjust to new style of teaching and learning
• Concerns on how to adjust to the holistic system of education in Africa
• Concerns about adolescent children of Africa
• Adopting holistic System of education including food and nutrition, providing the African child the opportunity to stand up for himself and have the necessary tool to face their future

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on COVID19 and Commemorating the Day of African Child

• Affirmed the physical, psychological, intellectual and social impact as well as risk on health of children  and effect on their cultural, social and environmental well being
• Noted the need on continuous education about COVID19 with emphasis on symptoms, good nutrition, heath checks and  testing, social and physical distancing and use of protective measures
• Recalled that the Day of the African Child was established by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then OAU in memory of 16 June 1976 students uprising in Soweto South African when students were experiencing poor quality of education received  leading to their demand that their education be taught in own language
• Noted that the day of the African Child serves to commemorate the pains and cries of these children and their brave action taken in defense of their rights thereby calling for committed reflection and obligation towards addressing the numerous challenges facing the African child from developing their inherent potentials for their sustainable future
• Considered the theme of the 2020 Day of the African Child “ Access to Child Friendly Justice in Africa” as obtained from the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Committee established in accordance with Article 32 And 33 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
• Noted the significant need to address the  education, health and access to child friendly justice for the African Child and the impact of COVID19 on the future of the African and Africana children
• Noted the need for inclusive support to all children including orphan children, children in vulnerable situations, gifted and exceptional children in situations of health and social pandemic
• Noted the need to utilize media , child advocacy , provision of equal opportunity to all children and inclusion of voices of children in policies that concern them in Africa

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on African Lessons and Understanding of the African Child

• Considered thought process from governments,mission, private school and educators perspective understanding on Africa lessons with respect to situation of the African child in times of COVID19 pandemic
• Noted the concerns by governments on the abnormality of millions of children out of school since March 2020
• Affirmed the catastrophic menace of the COVID19 pandemic on the future of the children of Africa and effect on the growth and development and the future of Africa
• Outcry on the increase in physical abuse of children and  vulnerability to sexual abuse and Female Genital Mutilation
• Noted children in rural communities have no access to digital tools and online/remote learning
• Called for continuous discussion, collaboration and assessment on needs of children in Africa
• Need to review the National curriculum, improve on stem education and have more practical subjects in place to meet with the challenges of the “New Normal” on education of the African Child
• Significant need for action on nutrition, psychomotor and effective education to meet with the education challenges of the “New Normal”
• Affirmed that the transformative  vision  of SDG to be linked to Pan African vision of a united and prosperous Africa

 

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on Dignity of the African Child: the Perspective by African Children

• Noted the effect of COVID19 on health of African children
• Noted the closure of schools due to COVID ’19 necessitating use of online education and the existing challenges
• Considered views of African children  in matters affecting  them to  be held in high esteem in the future we want for Africa
• Called for the need to work cooperatively and collaboratively to set realistic priorities and investments with concise implementation plans that include PROGRESSIVE short- and long-term goals with respect to the needs of the African Child
• Affirmed that the framework of action must reflect the regional and local context, including cultural diversity, resources and level of stability
• Considered significant need to improve and advocate for access to child friendly justice system in Africa utilizing the service of Civil Society organizations
• Noted that critical role in ensuring child rights education and legal awareness for all children, as well as for families and communities; through child participation projects; supporting community-based legal services; legal aid clinics, and socio-legal defense centers should provide legal information, inclusive participation of sector players and continuous representation to children
• Outcry on impending danger of COVID19 on African Children and emphasized on the need to begin with better data about COVID19  infection and effects on children
• Noted the positive effect of COVID19 pandemic quarantine on children leading them to being more independent and resourceful in exploring their future
• Noted the “New Normal” have provided African children in the Diaspora with flexible timetable, better quality work. Created opportunity for them to learn new skills through research, reading, creativity and Increased Independence
• Noted the negative effects f the COVID19 Quarantine affecting the mental and social wellbeing of African child
• Admired through socializing how COVID19 has created innovation for children to continue through their social affairs by the use of technology to socialize, encouraging weekly chat on Teams with our teachers, checking up on friends, classmates, and relations and enjoying birthdays virtually
• Appreciated numerous  changes in the lifestyle of children across the world  due to COVID-19, admired  different lifestyle and need for Importance of good education for all children during COVID19 pandemic

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on Position of the Global 2030 Agenda 

• Affirmed the need for inclusive education for the African Child through Model United Nations
• Noted the relevance to global education in encouraging the African Child education through exchange education programs
• Advocated for quality education for a sustainable life
• Called for the need to train and educate African children on diplomatic skills, negotiations skills, solution-oriented, critical analysis, leadership skills, time management, teamwork, lobbying, writing skills, communication skills, debating skills, intellectual skills, presentation skills, quick decision making, drawing: policies, constitutions, frameworks and guiding laws and principles
• Addressed the pathway to hope and the transformative power of early childhood development
• Noted that migrant and refugee children cannot be forgotten during the pandemic
• Noted that the early years of a child’s life are critical for building the brain’s foundation
• Recalled that science is clear and  a child’s brain constantly grows in complexity and is greatly impacted by daily experiences;
• Recalled that adversities and toxic stress in the first few years affect children throughout their lives;
• Noted that the COVID19 and other pandemic has long- term effects on cognition, health, wellbeing and productivity and  also contributes to the cycle of poverty, inequality, and social exclusion affecting societies across the world

 

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on Roadmap on Right to Quality and Inclusive education for African Child:  African Union Agenda 2063

• Noted the common challenges for the educational sector in African countries including teachers and shortage of qualified teachers reduce the class size and reduce the overcrowded classrooms
• Noted that the instructional material such as the scarcity of quality teaching and learning materials in the classroom as serious impediment to educational effectiveness in most African countries
• Pointed on the significant need on national language or mother tongue in teaching rather than teaching in a secondlanguage
• Noted the significant need to put incentive for teachers into consideration but affirms the use of monetary incentives to increase teacher morale remains a major challenge for many countries.

Strategic Action Plans to be considered on Vehicle of Delivery for Education, Health and Access to Child Friendly Justice for the African Child

• Recalled the efforts of the African leaders on addressing the concerns of African Children
• Noted the significant priority on women, children. Adolescent and the vulnerable population
• Addressed the disparity, inequality and injustice experienced by African Children in communities of Africa
• Affirmed the need for action oriented programs to help overall understanding on COVID19
• Called for need of development opportunity to stand up on justice system in position impact  on African Children
• Called forthe extreme eradication of poverty, poor nutrition, denial of education , health and wellbeing on African children
• Call for urgent need on quality and inclusive education for lifelong learning on African children
• Launched the RURAL⁺a Digital Education System for A New Normal on Education of African Children
• Admonished  that  our Education Solutions Classroom Academy (ESCA) Series has taken the vehicle of its action delivery to create content for community education, reduce emerging self-stigma, negative emotional health and to build healthy confidence in the minds of people while strengthening the education, economic and healthy wellbeing
• Called on the need to get back education at all levels on track from global to local communities in developing countries.

 

Education Solution Classroom Academy Series 11 Outcome:

The Education Solutions Classroom Academy Series 11 on COVID19 and 2020 Day of the African Child digressed issues affecting the African Child most importantly on health, education and access to justice system especially during COVID19 and other pandemic. To further address the concerns through:

• COVID19 and the African Child: Challenges and Issues
• COVID19 and Commemorating the Day of the African Child
• African Lessons and Understanding of the African Child
• Dignity of African Child: the Perspective by African Children
• Position of the Global 2030 Agenda
• Call to Action for 2020 Day of the African Child
• Vehicle of Delivery for Education, Health and Access to Child friendly Justice for the African Child

The speakers from the world six regions and the two hundred and eight registered participants envisaged that proactive measures are most needed during the present COVID19 era to improve of the existing menace of COVID19 on overall concerns of African Children.

1. The excellent and expert presentation of speakers including input from African children from Africa and the Diaspora and the launch of the RURAL⁺further responded to COVID19 issues hinging on the rights and welfare of the African child with expected outcome on child based approach in realizing an education, health and child friendly justice system for all African children.
2. Urgent need is necessary for improvement and compulsory education and conducive environment for all children
3. During and after lockdown on any pandemic, the African children must be provided with opportunity and tool to enable them fulfill their inherent potentials
4. Teachers and educators should be provided with incentives and other motivation indicators to enable them adequate professional services to the development of the African Child
5. Need to establish Confederation of African Proprietors of Private School Association to exchange score card and chare challenges to solution, establish inter relationship to have children learn from one another across Africa, expand the scope and  knowledge growth on African children  through excursion and visitation within Africa
6. Expand the   RURAL⁺digital education system and expedite action to establish the device to meet with the challenges of the education of African children at all level of education in the “New Normal”.
7. Plan a follow up Zoom conference on “DIGITALIZING EDUCATION IN AFRICA” with professional experts and work towards re-imaging the education process to achieving quality and inclusive education for lifelong learning.