Published on 07/12/2025
Legislators in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have tabled a motion to commend the Council on Education, Science, Technology, Culture, and Sports for establishing the East African Common Higher Education Area, an initiative designed to harmonize academic qualifications and enhance the mobility of students and staff across the region.
During the 26 November 2025 session, Dr. Abudulla Makame from Tanzania explained that the motion is grounded in the objectives of Articles 5, 76, and 104 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC).
These provisions obligate partner states to promote the free movement of persons, labor, services, and the right of establishment and residence, a vision operationalized through the EAC Common Market Protocol since 2010. Makame stressed that education is a cornerstone for achieving these objectives. “Education is a fundamental pillar in building a skilled, competitive, and innovative human resource base for sustainable development,” Makame said.
The motion emphasizes that implementation should begin at foundational levels, extending as far back as primary education, with harmonized curricula, standards, and quality assurance systems at both primary and secondary levels. Makame further urged other sectoral councils within the EAC to adopt similar harmonization frameworks in their areas of mandate. He called on the Council of Ministers to ensure the initiative is effectively implemented through the Inter-University Council of East Africa and other relevant institutions.
Seconding the motion, Clement Musangabatware of the Republic of Congo said the initiative would not only harmonize education but also enhance the mobility of students, lecturers, and researchers. It would facilitate mutual recognition of qualifications, dismantling barriers for graduates seeking employment or further studies within the region.
“It creates a seamless academic space, ensuring that degrees and diplomas issued in one partner state are automatically recognized by others, while strengthening the EAC’s global competitiveness as a knowledge-based region,” he said.
Tanzanian legislator Abubakar Kachwamba acknowledged the role of the Common Market Protocol in supporting the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, noting that the higher education area builds on these foundations. He added that the initiative would dispel public misconceptions of the EAC as being solely about the Assembly and employment opportunities.
“The mass at the grassroots often sees the East African Community only in terms of EALA and jobs. But that’s not true,” Kachwamba said. He noted that once the motion is enacted, individuals will move freely across borders, telecommunication tariffs will be harmonized, and the challenge of disparate exchange rates across the region could pave the way toward a single currency.
Kenya’s Godfrey Mwangi said the recognition of educational qualifications would also promote social, political, and economic integration within the EAC. He emphasized that education is a critical driver for building cohesive and harmonized societies. Mwangi challenged Makame to advance the motion into law to ensure progressive legal implementation, noting that motions alone serve only as calls to action. He highlighted that the youth, who constitute a significant proportion of the EAC population, would benefit from new opportunities generated by the initiative.
Tanzanian legislator Gladness Salema stressed the importance of similar cross-border educational programs to minimize discrepancies in specializations, while Uganda’s Mary Mugyenyi advocated for enabling the free movement of semi-educated individuals. She argued that those with O’level, A’level, or diploma qualifications should be able to cross borders to pursue higher education opportunities.
“Let those who can read and write our common languages, English, French, and Swahili, be accepted based on their foundational education from their home country,” Mugyenyi said. She also lamented the fragmentation of East Africa’s education system following the dissolution of the East Africa Certificate of Education, noting that harmonization and common standards remain the ultimate goal despite linguistic diversity.
In conclusion, EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana of Burundi underscored the significance of the Common Higher Education Area and urged members to explore avenues for integrating it into law. He highlighted that EALA has evolved beyond being solely a regional institution, noting that one of their former colleagues was appointed as a commissioner in the African Union, signaling the wider recognition and relevance of the Assembly’s work. “This is a signal that what we are doing here is right,” Ntakirutimana said.
