Zambia Ireland Teacher Education Partnership (ZITEP) launched by Ministers

The Zambia Ireland Teacher Education Partnership (ZITEP)  was formally launched at a reception in the Clock Tower, Department of Education and Science, by Mr Seán Haughey, TD, Minister for Lifelong Learning, and by Mr Peter Power, TD, Minister of State (both pictured above with Peadar Cremin, President MICL, James Silwimba, Zambian Education Ministry, and Pauric Travers, President SPD).   The Partnership is a unique collaboration between five Irish Teacher Education Colleges – St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Church of Ireland College of Education and Froebel College - and two Zambian Colleges - Kitwe Teachers College and Charles Lwanga College of Education.

The aim of the project is to contribute to the development of teacher education in Zambia and to enhance the professional development of participating lecturers in both countries.  The project is funded by Irish Aid and the Department of Education and Science.  Speaking at the launch, Minister Haughey praised the opportunities and benefits generated by the partnership in developing a community of learning for participants in both Zambia and Ireland.  Minister Power spoke of the key role of Irish Aid in Zambia and underlined the importance of investment in teachers and teacher education.  

Speaking on behalf of the Irish colleges and as Chair of the joint steering committee, Dr Travers, President of St Patrick’s College, thanked the Department of Education and Science, Irish Aid, and the Ministry of Education in Zambia for their support.   He said that the project was based on the twin principles of reciprocity and sustainability.  The reciprocal study visits by Zambian and Irish staff are a very visible and important element of this partnership – however, equally important are the ongoing relations which are developed and sustained between staff in individual subject areas through the use of a Moodle website.  Over 110 lectures in the seven Colleges are now registered on this site. 

The launch of the partnership coincides with a study visit by staff from Zambia.  Mr James Silwimba, Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education in Lusaka, described the project as “a unique programme between two governments that seeks to strengthen the pedagogical skills of teacher educators and improve the management provision and support systems for colleges”.     

The Administrative centre of the project is located at St Patrick’s College Drumcondra.   The lead co-ordinator is Ms Mary Kerr and the Zambian co-ordinator is Ms Linda Lyn Mwiinga. The members of the Irish Management Committee are John Smith, Chair, and Brian Ruane (SPD); Roisín Ní Niadh and Seán Bracken (MIE); Claire Lyons (MICE); Geraldine O’Connor and Ruby Morrow (CICE), Brian Tubbert and Catherine Lally (Froebel).

 

Last Updated: Tuesday October 27 2009