BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI – African Union Commission Commissioner for Education Professor Gaspard Banyankimbome has hailed His Majesty King Mswati III’s call for greater support and empowerment of teachers, saying the King’s message provided a powerful foundation for the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED) 2026.
Banyankimbome made the remarks as he delivered his closing address at PACTED 2026 in Ezulwini, where he expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Eswatini for successfully hosting the continental conference.
The AU Commissioner informed the conference that he was privileged enough to join His Majesty King Mswati III and other African delegates at the Inaugural Seed Summit dinner last night. He said the King’s keynote address had reinforced the importance of transforming the teaching profession as a central pillar of Africa’s development.
The Commissioner recalled that His Majesty had emphasised that without transforming the teaching profession, Africa would struggle to achieve meaningful development.
“That particular statement made my night so well. I slept like a baby,” Banyankimbome said, describing the King’s message as particularly significant to the conference.
He said the African Union was “immensely grateful” for the welcome and hospitality extended to delegates, but placed particular emphasis on the King’s contribution to the conference.
“We are very grateful to His Majesty’s visionary keynote address,” he said.
Banyankimbome said the King had insisted on the urgent need to support the teaching profession and the education sector as a whole, providing what he described as a moral and strategic compass for the conference.
According to the Commissioner, the King had clearly reminded delegates that Africa’s development ambitions could not be achieved without prioritising teachers.
“His Majesty reminded us with great clarity, Africa cannot successfully achieve the noble goal of Agenda 2063 without prioritising, protecting, and empowering our teachers,” Banyankimbome said.
He said the King’s words had gone beyond welcoming delegates to Eswatini, arguing that they had challenged participants to act with urgency in transforming education systems across the continent.
Banyankimbome also thanked the teachers, delegates and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the conference, while apologising for any shortcomings experienced during the event.
As PACTED 2026 drew to a close, he said the conference had demonstrated the central role teachers play in Africa’s development ambitions.
“Behind every policy is a teacher. Behind every movement in learning is a teacher. Behind Africa’s ambition are millions of teachers shaping that future every single day,” he said.
The Commissioner also highlighted the African Continental Teacher Award and other outcomes of the conference, which sought to recognise the contribution of teachers across the continent.
He said the recognition of teachers should remain an important part of efforts to strengthen the teaching profession and ensure that educators receive the support they need to contribute effectively to Africa’s future.
Banyankimbome concluded by thanking Eswatini for hosting PACTED 2026 and delegates for their participation, as the African Union and its partners continue efforts to strengthen teacher education, professionalisation, recognition, mobility, inclusion and the use of artificial intelligence in education.
#PACTED2026 #AfricanUnion #Teachers #TeacherEducation #Eswatini #Education #Agenda2063 #TeachingProfession #AfricanTeachers #EducationTransformation
