“This innovation in the 21^st Century is helping us to move ahead and reform our education”, Professor Nalova Lyonga declared.

The Diaspora Academic Network for Africa (Diana RY), Finland hosted a two-day online seminar titled the “Finland-Africa Collaboration Platform for Teacher Training and Capacity-building on 5-6 June 2024. This event brought together education stakeholders from Finland and Sub-Saharan African countries to discuss strategies for improving teacher training and professional development.

One of the highlights of the event was the keynote address delivered by the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, which centred around the topic “What Quality African Teacher for the 21^st Century, Governance, Training, Professional Development, Welfare and Innovation”. This was at the Conference Hall of the Distance Education Centre in the presence of the Secretary of State in Charge of Teacher Training, Boniface Bayaola, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Secondary Education, Professor Pierre Fabien Nkot, the Inspector General of Services, Fidelis Akat, the Inspector General of Education, Jean Paul Marcellin Mebada, Directors and Inspector-Coordinator Generals of the Central Services of her ministerial department.

 In the address, the Minister defined who a teacher is, profiled of the 21^st Century teacher, and explained the main guidelines governing the teaching profession and the needs and gaps in the domain.

Professor Nalova Lyonga defines teachers according to the National Education Policy, “as people who truly shape the future of our children and therefore, the future of our nation. The motivation and empowerment of teachers is required to ensure possible future for our children and nation”. As regards the profile of the 21^st Century teacher, the Minister stated that he/she should be one who possesses technological proficiency, global awareness, adaptability, empathy and emotional intelligence, classroom management, collaboration skills, behaviour, cultural competence, and promote dialogue.

The guidelines stated by Professor Nalova Lyonga centred on teacher training, equal distribution of resources in all the ten regions of Cameroon, inclusive education, assessment reform, technological integration and mental health support.

She went ahead to present the needs and gaps from the results of a survey carried out with 543 teachers. The results of the survey showed the gaps and the needs arrived at: the need for initial training content as far as digitalization is concerned, the need to increase in-service training for teachers, continued efforts to reduce the gaps or disparities among teachers, and the digitalization of lessons and assessments.

Professor Nalova Lyonga concluded her keynote address with this strong statement “we are behind, we have to move fast to go ahead and catch up. This innovation in the 21^st Century is helping us to move ahead and reform our education. We have to reform our education”, and called for action.

JOSO Sophie, ARO2/CELCOM