By Antynet Ford
The British Council is set to host its New Directions Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, for the first time in Africa, aiming to unite the professional language testing and teach community to discuss education and assessment system challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
The conference aims to showcase innovative language testing and policy work in the region and put Sub-Saharan Africa scholars and practitioners on the international language learning and assessment map.
It will explore the theme of ‘Rethinking policy and practice for English in complex linguistic landscapes’.
The areas of focus will include influencing assessment policy to serve multilingual communities; English and modern African identities; multilingualism and plurilingualism opportunities and challenges; and technology and language assessment and learning in Africa.
The conference will bring together over 200 participants from 18 countries and will run over two days with a packed agenda featuring high-profile experts in the field of language and assessment who will cover a range of topics.
It will be officially opened by British Council’s deputy CEO, Kate Ewart-Biggs, and the Country Director of Kenya, Tom Porter alongside the new Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Lucy Pearson.
Plenary speakers and panelists expected at the conference include Dr David Njengere, Kenya National Examinations Council; Prof. Leketi Makalela, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Prof. Barry O’Sullivan, British Council; and Dr. Harry Kuchah Kuchah, University of Birmingham; among others.
The British Council’s Regional Director of Exams, Keshav Sreedharan, announced the New Directions, Sub-Saharan Africa conference, will discuss the future of English, broader competencies, potential language education policy changes, and global perspectives on the future of English.
“This year’s New Directions, Sub Saharan Africa conference will explore questions around what English could look like and how it will be used. We will discuss what broader competencies are necessary in a rapidly changing and digitally enabled communication landscape, and how these can be developed and assessed in the future. We will also explore the potential changes in language education policy and reform in Kenya and the wider Sub-Saharan Africa region. Additionally, the conference will provide a platform to share global perspectives about the future of English with partners, thought leaders, teachers and learners around the world.” He said.
According to the British Council Kenya’s Country Director, Tom Porter, the conference as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable solutions for education, partnering with the Ministry of Education to enhance core skills assessment.
“The New Directions conference serves as a dynamic platform for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and developing sustainable solutions that empower educational institutions. By bringing together educators, policymakers, and experts to exchange transformative ideas, we reinforce our shared commitment to creating a brighter future for education in the region. We have a longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Education and support efforts to enhance core skills assessment.” He stated.