ECOWAS PARLIAMENT CHARTS WAY FORWARD FOR THE USE OF ICT IN IMPROVING DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament which held at Lomé, Togo from 17 to 21 November, ended with a lot of positive take homes, recommendations and charts for implementation. The meeting centered on the use of ICT to improve distance education and training in the subregion during the Covid-19 period. Stakeholders and Members of the Joint Committees on Education, Science and Technology/ Telecommunication and Information Technology/ Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and Infrastructure tirelessly brainstormed to proffer solutions to digitizing education in West Africa during the weeklong program.

For the regional Parliament, the task of achieving the abovementioned phenomenon centers around five strategies which are:
-Creating the framework for the establishment of a digita community plan for education

-Promoting the institutionalization and harmonization of education and distance training policies in ECOWAS Member States

-Ensuring the integration of the provisions of ratified instruments into national legislation

-Promoting the adoption of laws favorable to the promotion of distance education/training

-Ensuring the internalization of international, continental and regional instruments

In his closing remarks, Speaker Tunis noted clearly that, implementing the commitments and recommendations stands top of his agenda. For him, though challenges may be faced in doing so, Parliament will not relent until they are brought to fruition.

He also mentioned that the meeting has provided a window for Parliament’s identification of a relevant intervention mechanism to make an efficient contribution to the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Education and Training.

“The ECOWAS Parliament stands prepared to follow up on the recommendations emanating from these discussions, and we express our unwavering commitment to working with all stake holders to make these resolutions a reality,” he said.

The Speaker commended the Togolese National Parliament and its members as well as the government of Togo, for hosting Members of Parliament hospitably.

He specially thanked the Speaker of the National Parliament of Togo, Hon. Yawa Djigbodi Tsegan for her presence and support to the ECOWAS Parliament throughout its meeting and extended deep gratitude to His Excellency President Faure Gnassingbe, for the warm reception and audience he granted the delegation during the stay in Lomé.

In the same vein, Speaker Tunis appreciated Parliament’s 3rd Deputy Speaker and Head of the Togolese delegation Hon.Aklesso Atcholi as well as other members of the delegation for their untiring efforts towards ensuring the success of the delocalized meeting.

Finally, while reinstating his commitment to building a stronger ECOWAS Parliament and reeling out some of the achievements made during the delocalized meeting, Speaker Tunis pointed out that the meeting also provided an opportunity to mark, though in a small way, the 20th anniversary of the sub-regional Parliament.

“I wish to further reiterate my commitment towards building a stronger ECOWAS Parliament than what I met. I expect to achieve this feat with the cooperation of all Members and other stakeholders”.