Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo says Africa must use PACTED 2026 to turn continental commitments on teachers into practical national reforms.
He was speaking on Monday at the official opening of the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education, PACTED 2026, in Eswatini, an event that coincided with the global commemoration of World Teachers’ Day.
Nxumalo said 5th October 2026 holds double significance for the country and the continent, as delegates gathered for the continental conference while joining the world in honouring teachers. 
“It is a profound honour and a moment of great personal pride for me to host the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education here in Eswatini,” he said.
On behalf of His Majesty the King, the Government and the people of Eswatini, he extended a warm welcome to all delegates, noting that there is no better occasion to honour the men and women who shape the social fabric of societies.
He said PACTED 2026 is anchored on the theme: Transforming the Teaching Profession through Innovation, Recognition, Mobility, AI, Inclusion and Professional Excellence.
The Minister said the conference comes at a crucial moment when Africa and the global community are navigating complex pressures in education. These include teacher shortages, deployment challenges and the new realities of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate change and evolving labour markets.
“It is time to take PACTED 2026 as an energy to turn continental commitment into practical national reforms under the African Union Decade of Education and Skills Development 2025 to 2034,” Nxumalo said.
He said the call for the next three days is clear, to move from dialogue to delivery, ensuring better preparation, stronger support and greater influence for teachers to deliver quality learning across Africa.
Nxumalo outlined six interconnected priorities that will guide deliberations throughout the conference, all designed to place teachers at the centre of education transformation.
The first is domesticating the Continental Teacher Qualification Framework, CTQF, to establish robust standards, licensing and clear career pathways for teachers.
The second is facilitating the mutual recognition of teacher qualifications across borders to foster mobility and continental integration.
The third focuses on harnessing ethical, practical and responsible artificial intelligence and digital tools to empower teachers, especially those in rural and underserved communities.
The fourth priority addresses mental health, motivation and working conditions as critical factors in retaining top talent in the profession.
The fifth advances gender-responsive approaches to ensure educators are prepared to support diverse learners, including learners with special needs.
The sixth priority centres on professional excellence, which will be recognised during the AU Continental Teachers Awards 2026 to be held as part of the conference.
Nxumalo said as Africa advances the implementation of the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development, the continent stands at a critical crossroads.
“We know that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. Teachers are the primary drivers of quality, inclusive and transformative education,” he said.
He said teachers nourish human capital, fuel innovation and lay the cornerstone for the realisation of AU Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want, CESA 26-35 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
He called on delegates to deliberate with urgency, shared vision and courage, to build an environment where every teacher in Africa is valued, protected, modernised and empowered to shape the future of the continent.
“Let us build an environment where every teacher in Africa is valued, every teacher is valued and protected, modernised and empowered to shape the future of our continent,” he said.
He expressed hope that discussions over the three days will be fruitful, transformative and inspiring, with outcomes that will influence policy at national and continental level.
