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Date: 2010-09-05 22:02
Guest: 38.107.191.80
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Date: 2010-09-05 22:02
| Step up involvement in integration process, PS advices youth |
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 Nairobi, September 11, 2009…The youth in East Africa were today reminded that they form a central pillar in the East African integration and advised to step up their involvement in the integration process. “The aspiration of the Community is to give the youth of a rightful chance of being the drivers of the integration process,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community, Mr. David Nalo told members of the East African Students Union at a conference held at the University of Nairobi. “We are certainly aware that the youth constitute over 70% of the people of East Africa and thus any policy, programmes or projects that are initiated (in the region) have to put their interests into consideration.” A lot of work is going on in various sectors with the objective of benefiting the youth in East Africa, he said and singled out the education sector where Inter-University Council is coordinating the university activities in the Community and Science and Research Council which has been established to spearhead the Community activities in this area. He said EAC Partner States are currently working on the harmonization of education curriculum across the region for all levels as a response to the findings of a study on harmonization was undertaken by the Inter-University Council of East Africa. The process of harmonizing curriculum for medical and dental training has been completed, he said. In addition, there are harmonised guidelines for inspection and accreditation of both medical and dental schools in the Community, he said. “Under the Protocol for the establishment of the Common Market, negotiations are ongoing on harmonization and mutual recognition of academics and professional qualifications in the Community,” he said. Noting that there has been increased cross-border access to education with students seeking education in different parts of the region, the Permanent Secretary observed that in most instances, students from one Partner State are treated as foreigners in the other and are thus charged higher fees. This practice, he said, had necessitated the need for harmonization of fees structures in the Community which is currently ongoing. He paid tribute to the student leaders – drawn from higher institutions in all the five EAC Partner States – for creating a forum that brings together the students of East Africa and their leaders in an effort to network for purposes of bringing together the student fraternity on board the EAC integration train and hailed the efforts the students were putting in towards advocacy for good governance, environmental conservation and outreach programmes, freedom from hunger campaigns as well as activities geared towards cultural exhibitions and fight against HIV/AIDS. The EAC Students Union was conceived in 2005. Among other things it aims at complimenting the East African Community organs and institutions in popularising the agreed projects and programmes as well as sensitizing the youth in East Africans about the advantages and benefits of regional integration. This objective fits well with the aspiration of the EAC Partner States – that of a people-centered community. |