Education International Africa

EI Africa, in collaboration with Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ), organised a 3-day Workshop from 24th to 26th February 2026 under the theme, “ Study Circles and the Go Public Campaign: United for Quality Public Education”. The Workshop brought together 18 education union member representatives from Francophone member organisations in Burundi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Senegal, Togo, Quebec/Canada.

EI Africa Regional Director, Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, in his opening remarks, acknowledged the transformative power of study circles. As a product of the model himself, he highlighted that study circles serve as an effective capacity building platform that strengthens union power and positions unions strategically in the fight for quality public education.

Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, Regional Director - Education International Africa

The study circle approach gives member unions, starting from the grassroots level, an opportunity to learn and unlearn together as they reflect on how to address the pressing issues affecting quality public education. These include low teacher salaries, a growing student population with fewer teachers, ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining members, and identifying practical strategies to drive change. EI Africa is using study circles to strengthen member engagement and mobilize collective action in support of the Go Public! Fund Education campaign.

CSQ Secretary – Treasurer, Luc Beauregard, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening union cooperation across the Francophone region. He emphasised the importance of solidarity among unions across the Francophone region and underscored the value of study circles as a practical tool for strengthening collective capacity. He stressed that sustained cooperation and knowledge-sharing are essential for advancing the Go Public! Fund Education campaign and improving the conditions of teachers and education workers.

Luc Beauregard, Secretary – Treasurer, Centrale des syndicats du Quebec

According to Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, “our governments are not investing sufficiently in education and in teachers.” He explained that through the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, member unions are calling on governments to increase investment in education, teachers, school infrastructure, teaching and learning resources, and quality public education for every African child. He stressed that every child deserves access to a well-resourced, safe and healthy public school and to be taught by a qualified professional teacher.

He further urged member unions to adopt the Triple P advocacy strategy— Persuade, Push, and Pressurise—to compel governments to develop policies, regulations, and budgets that guarantee the right to education. He emphasized that unions must continue this effort until quality education becomes a reality for every African child and until the professional status and working conditions of education workers are significantly improved.

Education International’s Go Public! Fund Education Campaign Manager, Angelo Gavrielatos, encouraged member unions to “hold governments accountable to key political commitments on education”—including CESA 2026–2035 and the United Nations High Level Panel Recommendations on the Teaching Profession. He stressed the importance of asking evidence-based questions grounded in data and facts to strengthen their advocacy and make their arguments more compelling.

Angelo Gavrielatos - Campaign Manager, Education International

The workshop included simulations of study circle sessions, demonstrating the types of issues to be discussed and the appropriate methods for discussing them. Participants also explored various communication strategies aimed at strengthening advocacy for quality public education.

In closing, participants committed to strengthening and expanding the use of study circles as a powerful, ongoing training tool for education personnel in schools. They also agreed to develop national action plans aligned with the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, produce and share national data on education financing and working conditions, and intensify Francophone inter union cooperation with EI Africa. Finally, unions pledged to present the outcomes of the Accra training to the Comité Syndical Francophone de l’Éducation et de la Formation (CSFEF) Bureau and Conférence des Ministres de l'Éducation Nationale (CONFEMEN) in Dakar in May 2026, ensuring continued momentum and coordinated action across the region.