Launch of Zambia-Ireland Teacher Education Partnership (ZITEP)

Posted on 14/10/09 by Seán Haughey Seán Haughey, TD , Minister for Lifelong Learning, Department of Education and Science and Peter Power, TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, today launched the Zambia-Ireland Teacher Education Partnership (ZITEP).
The partnership is an initiative aimed at improving the quality of teacher education in Zambia.
Five teacher education colleges in Ireland will work with two teacher education colleges in Zambia on a comprehensive programme of mentoring and support in key areas of teacher training.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Haughey praised the opportunities and benefits generated by this initiative in developing a community of learning for participants and lecturers from Zambia and Ireland.
‘I believe that this partnership has great potential to engage the professionals involved in enhancing teacher formation and development.
'Partnerships such as ZITEP are important in providing a forum for reflection on our own practices and will enable learning from our peers both from within our own country and from other countries.'
Minister Haughey pointed to the virtual intranet as a key feature of the partnership, as it linked the seven colleges, resulting in over 110 lecturers collaborating on-line between the two countries.
‘This allows lecturers to collaborate, interact and share ideas, co-develop resources and discuss issues relevant to the teaching of their subject.
'The site also facilitates the joint management of the partnership and provides some useful insights into classroom management, assessment practices and teaching practice.
'The success of ZITEP as a partnership will be because the lecturers use these structures to build good professional relationships.'
The Minister also praised the comprehensive programme of events planned for the exchange visit, which included visits to schools and to each College of Education.
He paid tribute to the coordinators of the partnership programme, the members of the steering and management committees and the organisers of the event and wished all involved with this innovative partnership every success.
Jointly launching the programme, Minister Peter Power, TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development, said
'Education is central to the fight against poverty, hunger and injustice in the developing world.
'It offers children the opportunity to escape the trap of poverty and hunger and build their own future.
'Teachers are central to this effort, so it is vitally important to invest in their professional development and to facilitate them in sharing research and practical experience.
'The Zambia - Ireland partnership initiative will contribute significantly to the delivery and quality of education.
'It builds on what the Government's aid programme, in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Education, are trying to achieve in the long-term.
'Irish Aid and the Department of Education and Science have worked together on the development and support of this programme. Both are represented on the steering committee of ZITEP and both departments will share the costs of the programme, which will be approximately € 1.5 million for the first three years.
'As a joint initiative, ZITEP is a very good example of the interdepartmental cooperation and whole of government approach towards development issues.
'It demonstrates that this approach can make a tangible difference to the world's most vulnerable communities.'
Also speaking at the launch were James Silwimba, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Zambia, Pauric Travers, Chairperson of the Joint Steering Committee and Mary Kerr, Irish coordinator of the partnership.