Brief Description 

With the coming into effect of the Commission in January 2007, three new Departments were created out of the former Human Development Department as follows:

            •          Education, Culture, Science & Technology

            •          Gender, Youth/Sports, Civil Society,Employment & Drug Control

            •          Humanitarian and Social Affairs

The Department of Education, Culture, Science and Technology is headed by a Director, Prof. Abdoulaye Issaka MAGA. This is one of the Commission’s Departments critical to regional integration, economic development as well as overall poverty reduction and social emancipation of the people of West Africa.

PROGRAMMES OF THE DEPARTMENT:

       Education Programme   

In order to reform Education in ECOWAS, within the framework of the Decade of Education adopted by the African Union, NEPAD Initiatives, Education for All as well as Millennium Development Goals (MDG), ECOWAS in 2003 adopted a Regional Protocol on Education and a Convention on the Recognition and the equivalence of Degrees, Diplomas and other qualifications. The protocol sets out priority objectives in education, and the means to achieve them within the framework of Member States cooperation. ECOWAS also adopted an Action plan that was annexed to the protocol on education relating to the priority programmes adopted by the conference of Ministers namely:

            •          HIV/AIDS preventive Education

            •          Girls Education

            •          Teacher training through Distance learning

            •          Promotion of Science and Technology

            •          Technical and Vocational Educational Education and Training

                        Objectives

            •          To provide all Community citizens greater access to quality education  and training opportunities available in the region;

            •          To harmonise criteria for admission into institutions of higher learning,

research institutions, and vocational training centres; harmonise certificates; and progressively harmonise the educational and training systems in the Member States.

Justification

• Decision A/DEC.3/01/03, Protocol relating to Education and Training;

• Decision.4/01/03, General Convention on Equivalence of Certificate

Key activities for 2007

1. Recruitment of a consultant; to carry out feasibility study on Equivalence of certificates;

2. Meeting of the Ad-hoc committee on Equivalence of certificates; to consider the report of the feasibility study carried out by the consultant and prepare a list of certificates issued in ECOWAS;

3. Meeting of Experts on the promotion of Girls Education in ECOWAS; to assess the current situation of girls’ education in ECOWAS, identify problems encountered and exchange best practices towards achieving gender parity in 2015.

Culture programme

ECOWAS Cultural development programme approved by the Council of Ministers is designed to strengthen and develop exchange to promote creativity, cultural tourism development, free movement of cultural products, and to enable African artists to have greater access to the international art market. It is also designed to ensure that culture is taken into account in the regional integration process for development and to foster sense of belonging.

            Objectives

•          To support and encourage creativity within the ECOWAS space;

•          To promote cultural exchange

•          To strengthen cooperation with film makers

Justification

•          Protocol A/P1/7/87

•          A/DEC.4/11/96 ECOWAS Cultural Development Programme

Key activities for 2007

1.      The Pan-African Film Festival (FESPACO) to support and encourage creativity within the ECOWAS space; to promote cultural exchanges and; to strengthen cooperation with film makers (FESPACO)

2.      Meeting of the Ad-hoc committee in charge of monitoring the implementation of cultural programmes, to evaluate the status of implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Conference of Ministers; propose strategies for the implementation of projects (African Languages, Cultural Actors Network); propose centres of excellence and; prepare a draft 2008 programme.

Science and Technology Programme

Article 27 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty clearly spells out that Member States shall ensure proper application of Science and Technology to the development of agriculture, transport and communications, industry, health and hygiene, energy, education and manpower and the conservation of the environment.

            Objectives

•           To formulate regional Science and Technology Policy and strategic Plan of Action for ECOWAS sub-region;

•           To ensure a proper application of Science and Technology in the development of various sectors;

•           To popularise Science and Technology culture in ECOWAS;

•           To strengthen existing scientific research institutions and take all necessary measures to prepare and implement joint scientific research and technological development programmes

Justification

• Article 27 of the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS on cooperation in Science and Technology;

• NEPAD programme on Science and Technology

• Abuja Declaration on Science and Technology by the Conference of ECOWAS Ministers responsible for Science and Technology, held on 4^th November, 2004.

Key activities for 2007

1.      Recruitment of a consultant to carry out the second phase of Science and Technology policy and Plan of Action which commenced in 2006, aimed at formulating the regional Science and Technology policy and strategic Plan of Action for ECOWAS sub-region.

2.      Multi-disciplinary Group meeting of experts in Science and Technology to review and make necessary input into the Draft Policy and Strategic Plan of Action prepared by the consultant.