By Dickson Bandera
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is set to hold a high-level Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Education and Training and Science, Technology, and Innovation on June 20, 2025, at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Chaired by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Hon. Dr. Frederick M. Shava, the meeting will focus on evaluating regional progress and aligning education and innovation strategies with SADC’s sustainable development goals.
The meeting aims to review policy frameworks, assess implementation of existing programmes, and establish refined regional priorities. Ms. Angèle Makombo N’tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, will represent the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Elias M. Magosi.
Key topics on the agenda include the operationalisation of the SADC University of Transformation (SUT), updates on the Regional Higher Education and TVET Policy Frameworks, the revised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategic Framework, and the status of the SADC Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Ministers will also deliberate on the development of an Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Strategy, the implementation of the SADC Charter on Women in Science, and the urgent need for better data to inform school health and adolescent wellness programmes, including mental health and HIV awareness.
This gathering reaffirms SADC’s commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable education, fostering innovation ecosystems, and leveraging science and technology to drive regional industrialisation and socio-economic transformation.
The Joint Ministerial Meeting will be preceded by several key sessions, including:
A Senior Officials meeting from June 17–18,
The SEACMEQ Ministers Session on June 19, and
A Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy on the afternoon of June 19.
