GI-ESCR participated in the 6th Annual Convening of the Regional Education Learning Initiative Kenya (RELI-Kenya) held from August 30th to September 1st. This gathering brought together approximately 20 member organisations from Kenya, focusing on key themes such as Equity and Inclusion, Values and Life Skills, and Learner-Centred Teaching to ensure the right to quality education for all children in Kenya. This year's gathering included RELI members from Uganda and Tanzania. The main objective of the convening was to launch the first RELI strategic plan for 2023-2026 and to officially announce RELI's newly acquired status as a registered organisation. 

GI-ESCR's representative, Roselyne Onyango, participated in the Equity and Inclusion gallery exhibition during the event. She presented the necessity for a comprehensive re-evaluation of education policies, particularly concerning private education and the Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training schools (APBET), to ensure alignment with human rights principles and Guiding Principle 2 of the Abidjan Principles. This aligns with GI-ESCR's upcoming research brief on “Using the Abidjan Principles to assist the conceptualisation and regulation of ‘APBET schools’ in Kenya”.  The exhibition provided member organisations with a platform to showcase their ongoing and completed projects related to the right to education in Kenya. 

The convening also featured panels addressing various aspects of implementing the new strategy. These panels included input from children, policymakers, and other civil society organisations, all focusing on emerging issues affecting education quality. Discussions revolved around how RELI can strategically address these issues and build a robust local movement involving its members, CSOs, and policymakers. 

Furthermore, the convening allowed GI-ESCR to establish connections with key partners and continue building momentum to create advocacy opportunities to advance quality public education for all children in Kenya. Some of the outcomes of this gathering included recognising the importance of collaboration and co-creation with RELI members to avoid duplication and leverage each other's ideas and resources. GI-ESCR’s active involvement in RELI activities is intricately woven into our broader organisational mission of strengthening quality public education and regulating private actors in Kenya's educational sector and within East Africa. 

Read more about our work on the right to education and private actors here.