In order to fulfil the consensus reached by leaders of China and Zambia, and implement Nine Programs on China-Africa cooperation at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, "China-Zambia Primary and Secondary School Principals Educational Leadership Online Workshop" jointly initiated by China-Africa Leadership Development Institute of Tsinghua University (CALDI) and the University of Zambia(UNZA) was successfully held from July 14 to 15. Mr.Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Ms. Yvonne Mweemba Chuulu, Director of the Secondary Education from Zambian Ministry of Education, Prof. Yang Bin, Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University and CALDI Co-President, Prof. Boniface Namangala, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNZA, attended and delivered speech. Prof. Liu Huiqin, Party Secretary of the Institute of Education(IOE) of Tsinghua University and CALDI Executive Director, Dr. Sander, Director of the Belt and Road Joint Research Center of UNZA, moderated the meeting.
Picture 1: China-Zambia Primary and Secondary School Principals Educational Leadership Online Workshop
As an important part of cultural exchanges and bilateral relations, the most fundamental key of China-Zambia Educational Cooperation lies in the recognition of the people. A total of 64 Zambian Primary and Secondary School Principals signed up for the workshop. Experts, scholars and principals from education institutions in both China and Zambia made intellectual exchange and contributed their experience in three dialogue sectors, including basic education development, teacher training and school vitality building, online education practice. The Chinese and Zambian principal representatives made extensive communication during school management case sharing section. The workshop made positive effect in developing a platform for basic education community with equality and mutual trust, which lays the foundation for building flagship project and promoting people-to-people bonding between two countries.
Picture 2：Group Photo
Mr.Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Ms. Yvonne Mweemba Chuulu, Director of the Secondary Education from Zambian Ministry of Education expressed in the opening remark that education cooperation is a significant component in the Eight Major Initiatives of the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018 and Nine Programs announced in The 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC in 2021. Compared with higher education, cooperation and exchange between primary and secondary schools is less frequent. The potential in this area is vast and promising. The workshop is the first project in implementing the consensus of the heads of state on education and capacity-building, which serves the leading role of pragmatic cooperation.
Picture 3：Amb.Du Xiaohui and Director Yvonne delivered opening speeches
In the keynote speech, Vice President Yang Bin and Deputy Vice Chancellor Boniface respectively pointed out the positive impact of principal education leadership training on school development, as well as the important contribution in achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals and agenda 2063 in Africa. Tsinghua University and the University of Zambia represent the higher education in both countries. The smooth launching of this workshop marks the beginning of a new chapter in the education cooperation between the two universities.
Picture 4：Vice President and Provost Yang Bin and Deputy Vice Chancellor Boniface delivered keynote speeches
The workshop included three dialogues. In "Basic Education Development" dialogue, Dr. Bentry Nthata, Dean of School of Education of UNZA and Mr. Meng Yuan, Director of Policy Studies Division from Center for Language Education and Cooperation of MOE were invited. They respectively shared the development of basic education in Zambia and the Chinese teaching in Africa. In dialogue of "Teacher Training and School Vitality Building", shared by Prof.Shi Zhongying, Dean of the Institute of Education Tsinghua University, and Mr Malizani Tembo, Principal of Mansa College of Education. Prof. Shi Zhongying elaborated on the intention and extension of school vitality and put forward some suggestions for releasing educational vitality in the future. Mr. Malizani focuses on the college education of teacher training in Zambia. In the "Online Education Practice " dialogue, Prof. Naison Ngoma, Chairman of Saint Claire International School, Lt. Col. Rtd. Vice Chancellor Emeritus of Copperbelt University, introduced the challenges and prospects of Zambian online education. Associate Prof. Tong Lili, Deputy Director of Educational Informatization Strategy Research Base of MOE, Director of National Engineering Laboratory for Cyber Learning and Intelligent Technology（CIT） of Beijing Normal University, shared the thought and practice of digital transformation of teacher education.
Picture 5: Moderator and Dialogue Guests photo (Prof.Liu Huiqin first left, Dr. Sande first right, Dr. Bentry Nthata second left, Mr. Meng Yuan second right, Prof. Shi Zhongying third left, Mr Malizani Tembo third right, Prof. Naison Ngoma Fourth left, Associate Prof. Tong Lili Fourth right)
In School Management Case Sharing section, the three principal representatives from both countries exchanged the significance of educational leadership in school management. Liu Yanping, the principal of the First Branch of Beijing National Day School, described the process of taking over weak schools and making them revive and thrive with the case titled as "Opening the Black Box of School Vitality". She believes that finding the soul of the school is the first priority, and the organizational structure must be adjusted to serve the development of everyone. Wang Xingang, the principal of Zhuhai High-Tech Zone Jinfeng Primary School, made presentation titled as " Many Little Makes Mickle- The Value Oriented School Management Practice Towards High-Quality Development", which illustrated the exploration and reform in the four aspects of curriculum construction, student development, teacher development and school management in serving the local community and promoting educational modernization. Isaac Lijimu, the principal of Kabompo Secondary School in Zambia, introduced the practice and cultural characteristics of the school, especially the efforts made by the school in building quality education and providing personalized training, as well as its plan of Chinese teaching in the future.
Picture 6: Ms.Liu Yanping（left）,Mr.Wang Xingang, Mr.Isaac Lijimu（right）in Principal Management Case Sharing
Prof. Getachew Engida, former Deputy Director General of UNESCO and CALDI Co-President, made a conclusive speech. He introduced his ongoing capacity-building project in cooperation with the Ethiopian Minister of Education, and proposed that the reform of basic education in Africa could refer to China's development experience. CALDI could serve as the platform to deepen the bilateral education cooperation.
Figure 7: Getachew Engida delivered a conclusive speech
