A Critique of the Southern African Development Community's Protocol on Education and Training

Abstract

This chapter provides a detail of the Southern African Development Community's (SDAC) Protocol on Education and Training, which covers all levels of education. Its primary focus is on higher education. It shows how all levels of education, with the exception of postgraduate training and research, are seen to be “largely the responsibilities of each member state.” The chapter further covers aspects of the protocol, which include (a) the primary purpose of the SADC Protocol; (b) regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive aspects of the Protocol; (c) formation of regional quality assurance systems and qualification frameworks; (d) national education system, structure, governance; (e) regional access and mobility; (f) thematic areas, normative in nature (democracy and participation; equity and access; resourcing; improvements in quality; academic freedom; partnerships; valuing research; regional cooperation, collaboration, and sharing resources; lifelong education; reduction of duplication); (g) implementing equivalence, harmonisation, and standardisation of education and training systems.