The 90-minute online seminar brought together ministers and experts to consider the use of evidence to drive efficiency and equity in education policy. The event was opened with remarks from Education Development Trust’s Chief Executive, Patrick Brazier, who highlighted the importance of making use of the best available evidence to inform effective and equitable interventions, followed by a keynote speech from Wendy Morton MP, UK Minister for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In her speech, she stressed the importance of effective spending and gave two key examples, from Kenya and Ghana, of cost-effective programming which serve as reminders of what can be achieved with political will and policy expertise. She also highlighted FCDO’s key outputs and partnerships with governments, and introduced the forthcoming What Works Hub for global education, which will work closely with governments and partners to synthesise, curate and communicate evidence to policymakers in accessible form. 

This was followed by a video contribution from Sierra Leone’s Minister for Education, David Sengeh, who explained the country’s use of its Education Data Hub to enable better, evidence-informed decision-making at all levels of the education system. We also saw video contributions from a range of young people in Kenya, produced by the British Council, in which we heard the voices of real students talking about their learning, aspirations and ideas to improve education in their country. 

The remainder of the event centred on an insightful panel discussion between ministers and experts, chaired by Education Development Trust’s Education Director, Tony McAleavy and the British Council’s Gender and Inclusion Specialist, Alice Wekesa. The panelists – H.E. Dr Ing Getahun Mekuria (Minister of Education, Ethiopia), Hon. Dr Muraad Raas (Minister of Education, Punjab), Hon. John Ntim Fordjour MP (Deputy Minister of Education, Ghana) and Dr Brajesh Panth (Chief of Education Sector, Asian Development Bank) – then engaged in an inspiring and productive discussion of the power of data to effect cost-effective change within their school systems.  

The webinar closed with a reprisal of a young person’s voice from Kenya – a poem by secondary student Daisy Abuti.  

Education Development Trust would like to thank all those who participated in and attended the event. To watch a recording of the webinar in full, please click here.