Paris, France, June 6, 2003: Ahlin Byll-Cataria, Chair of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), announced today in Nairobi the Prize winners of the 2003 competition. This statement concludes two days of deliberations by the jury of the Africa Education Journalism Award, meeting at FAWE House (Forum of African Women Educationists), Nairobi. The announcement was made in the presence of the Assistant Minister of Kenya’s Ministry of education, Hon. Dr. Kilemi Mwiria.

For articles in English:

For articles in French:

The prize winners and the editors-in-chief of their publications will be invited to undertake a study visit including seminars in Paris and London. In addition, the first prize-winner in each language category will receive a cash award of 2000 euros, while second place winners will receive 1000 euros.

The Africa Education Journalism Award was initiated by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in connection with its Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (COMED) based in Cotonou, Benin. The objectives of the award are: to promote communication and public debates on education issues in African countries; to encourage the production of articles on education in the press and to facilitate the creation of a network of African journalists specializing in reporting education; to mobilize public support for education through the media.

For this second edition, the jury, made up of renowned education specialists and experienced journalists with in-depth knowledge of the African continent, scrutinised 32 articles in French and 32 articles in English according to agreed selection criteria. The 64 articles were pre-selected from 419 entries. Submissions came from 38 countries versus 20 countries in 2002.
Encouraged by the increased level of participation in this second round, ADEA plans to continue making the awards in the future. It will give special attention to enhancing the editorial quality of articles on education. While jury members have stated that the quality of entries this year is better than last year’s, they still feel much can be done to improve educational journalism in Africa.

About COMED

ADEA’s Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (COMED), based in the West African News Media and Development Center (WANAD) is implemented with support from the World Bank and the Norwegian Education Trust Fund. A major premise underlying COMED is that information exchange and communication among partners are essential to well-managed and efficient educational systems and to the achievement of quality education for all. COMED is therefore designed to help African countries establish structures able to conceive and implement information and communication programs.

Given the key role of the mass media in disseminating information, COMED gives special emphasis to training African journalists in how to report education and development issues. So far, over 120 journalists and communication officers from 30 countries have participated in COMED workshops since 1999.

About ADEA

ADEA was created in 1988 to foster greater collaboration and coordination between development agencies. Since then, the ADEA has become an instrument for partnership between African Ministers of Education and international funding agencies. It has evolved into a structure designed to:
(i) reinforce African ministries’ leadership capacities as they work with funding agencies; (ii) develop these agencies’ awareness that their own practices should be adapted to the needs of nationally-driven education policies, programs and projects; (iii) develop a consensus between ministries and agencies on approaches to the major issues facing education in Africa.

Central to ADEA’s philosophy is the belief that the responsibility for educational development rests with national governments. Towards this end, ADEA is endeavoring to foster a process that empowers African ministries of education and makes funding agencies more responsive to countries’ concerns and priorities. ADEA’s activities focus on strengthening policy dialogue between governments and funding agencies, between governments, and between development agencies. It also strives to strengthen institutional capacities within Africa through developing technical skill, setting up networks to exchange information and encouraging the sharing of successful strategies, innovations and experiences.

Nairobi, Kenya, June 6, 2003