Commonwealth of Learning

FOCAL POINTS

In order to make its relationship with each Commonwealth Member State more systematic and interactive, the Commonwealth of Learning introduced a network of COL Focal Points in 2006. Each Minister of Education was requested to nominate a Focal Point (listed below) who would be COL's primary contact in a particular country.

Learning for Development is the theme of the 2006-09 Plan. COL's role is to help countries use a range of appropriate and available approaches and technologies to foster learning at scale. COL's work will cover three sectors of activity: Education, Learning for Livelihoods and Human Environment. Dialogue with the Focal Points will ensure that COL initiatives match national priorities. These discussions will help COL to develop Country Action Plans for each country for the next three years.

The COL Focal Points are expected to:

Interact with COL staff for all our programmes, giving us the necessary feedback to inform our ongoing interventions and to flag areas where new initiatives and interventions could be considered.
Have a co-ordination role among different ministries and institutions in their country, where necessary. With the broadening of COL's work to include not only Education but Health, Rural Development, Environment and Governance, the role of the focal point will become more important. Programmes and activities in the new areas would concern Ministries such as Agriculture and Health, in addition to Education, but the Focal Point would be a single-window contact between COL and a Government.
Receive and disseminate information about COL and its activities. COL will provide the Focal Point with copies of all the relevant information and material for dissemination to the appropriate institutions and agencies within the country, and will seek relevant information and feedback on programmes and activities from the Focal Point.
Receive advance advice about visits of COL staff to specific countries so that well-planned and adequately prepared interactions occur on all issues of mutual interest.

Focal points and country information

Antigua & Barbuda	Ms. Peecheeta Spencer Principal Antigua State College P.O. Box 193 St. John's Antigua & Barbuda COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Australia
The Bahamas	Ms. Patricia Collins Director of Education Ministry of Education P.O. Box SS 5295 Nassau The Bahamas COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Bangladesh	Mr. Md Nazrul Islam Khan Joint Secretary (Secondary) Ministry of Education Building # 6, Floor # 17th Bangladesh Secretariat Dhaka 1000 Bangladesh BIO COL activities in 2003-2006
Barbados	Ms. Idamay Denny Deputy Chief Education Officer Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports "The Elsie Payne Complex" Constitutional Road St. Michael Barbados or Mr. Laurie King (Alternate COL Focal Point of Barbados) Senior Education Officer Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports "The Elsie Payne Complex" Constitutional Road St. Michael Barbados COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Belize	Ms. Maud Hyde Chief Education Officer Ministry of Education & Labour West Block Belmopan Belize COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Botswana	Mr. Godson Gatsha Acting Director, SADC-CDE Private Bag BO 187, Bontleng Gaborone Botswana COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Brunei Darussalam	Mr. Awang Othman Haji Simbran Acting Senior Special Duties Officer and Secretary Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council Head of International Affairs Unit Ministry of Education Old Airport Road Berakas Brunei Darussalam BB3910 COL activities in 2003-2006
Canada	Represented on COL's Board as a major donor
Cameroon	Professor Ivo Leke Tambo Permanent Secretary Ministry of Secondary Education B.P. 1600 Mineduc-Cab Yaounde Cameroon and Mr. Daniel Akume Akume Head of the Computerised System for the Management of Staff and Salaries Ministry of Higher Education B.P 1739 Yaounde Cameroon COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Cyprus	Professor George Papadopoulos Department of Computer Science University of Cyprus P.O. Box 20537 1678 Nicosia Cyprus COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Dominica	Senior Administrative Officer Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Sports and Youth Affairs Government Headquarters Roseau Dominica COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Fiji Islands	Mr. Aseri Manulevu Senior Agricultural Officer (International Relations) Agriculture Department Ministry of Agriculture Robinson Complex Private Mail Bag Raiwaqa, Suva Fiji Islands COL activities in 2003-2006
The Gambia	Mr. Musa Touray Principal Higher Education Officer Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology GRTS Building Mdi Road Kanifing The Gambia BIO COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Ghana	Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah EDUIT Consortium PO Box 25 Cape Coast Ghana COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Grenada	Mr. Julien Ogilvie Chief Education Officer Ministry of Education & Labour Affairs Botanical Gardens Tanteen St. George's Grenada COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Guyana	Ms. Inge Nathoo Secretary-General Guyana National Commission for UNESCO Dargan House 90 Robb & Oronoque Streets Bourda Georgetown Guyana COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
India	Dr. D.K. Paliwal Deputy Educational Adviser Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of Secondry & Higher Education Government of India Shastri Bhavan New Delhi - 110 001 India BIO Also represented on COL's Board as a major donor COL activities in 2003-2006
Jamaica	Mr. Philbert Dhyll Assistant Chief Education Officer (Tertiary) Ministry of Education and Youth 2 National Heroes Circle Kingston 4 Jamaica COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Kenya	Mr. Omido Ongonga Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MOHEST) Kenya COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Kiribati	Mr. Tebania Tebakabo Ag. Director of Education Ministry of Education, Youth & Sport P.O. Box 263 Bikenibeu Tarawa Republic of Kiribati COL activities in 2003-2006
Lesotho	Dr. Mokopane Moshabesha Director Institute of Extra Mural Studies National University of Lesotho Private Bag A47 Maseru Lesotho COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Malawi	Mrs. Bethel Sandra Masauli Acting Principal Malawi College of Distance Education Private Bag 302 Blantyre 3 Malawi COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Malaysia	Dato' Professor Ir. Dr. Radin Umar bin Radin Sohadi Director General Department of Higher Education Management Ministry of Higher Education Level 3, Block E9, Presint 1, Parcel E Federal Government Administrative Centre 63505 Putrajaya Malaysia COL activities in 2003-2006
Maldives	Dr. Ali Fawaz Shareef Director Centre for Open Learning Nikagas Magu Male' Maldives and Mr. Ahmed Yasir Deputy Director - Foreign Relations Ministry of Education Ghaazee Building Ameer Ahmed Magu Male Maldives COL activities in 2003-2006
Malta	Ms. Louise Cutajar Davis Education Officer International Relations Great Siege Road Floriana CMR 02 Malta COL activities in 2003-2006
Mauritius	Mr. H.B. Dansinghani Director Educational Reforms & International Relations Ministry of Education & Human Resources 3rd Floor IVTB House Phoenix Mauritius COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Mozambique	Ms. Zaida Paz Helena Baúle Education Officer Department of International Cooperation Directorate of Planning and Cooperation Ministry of Education and Culture 10th Floor, Av. 24 de Julho 167 Maputo Mozambique COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Namibia	Ms. Norah Bennett NOLNet Executive Secretary NAMCOL Head Office Yetu Yama Centre Independence Avenue Private Bag 15008 Katutura Windhoek Namibia COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Nauru	Mr. Michael J. Longhurst Director of Education Ministry of Education & Vocational Training Nauru COL activities in 2003-2006
New Zealand (NZAID)	Ms. Myra Harrison Education Advisor Strategy, Advisory and Evaluation Group New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) Private Bag 18901 Wellington New Zealand Also represented on COL's Board as a major donor
Nigeria	Dr. Marie E. Uko Assistant Director Federal Ministry of Education Bilateral Agreements, Commonwealth & African Affairs Branch Division 8th Floor Phase III Federal Secretariat Abuja Nigeria Also represented on COL's Board as a major donor COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Pakistan	Professor Dr. Mahmood H. Butt Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University Sector H-8 Islamabad Pakistan COL activities in 2003-2006
Papua New Guinea	Mr. Ouka Lavaki Senior Assistant Secretary General Education Services P.O. Box 446 Waigani NCD Papua New Guinea COL activities in 2003-2006
Samoa	Mrs. Gatoloaifaaana Tilianamua To'omata Afamasaga Director for the Centre of Professional Studies and Continuing Education Oloamanu Centre National University of Samoa P.O. Box 1622 Apia Samoa COL activities in 2003-2006
Seychelles	Ms. Marie-Reine Hoareau Technical Advisor Technical Cooperation & International Relations Department of Education and Human Resources Ministry of Education and Youth Mont Fleuri Mahe Seychelles COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Sierra Leone	Mrs. Musu Gorvie Assistant Director Tertiary Education Ministry of Education, Science & Technology New England Freetown Sierra Leone COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Singapore	Ms. Cheryl Chan Asst. Director for International Relations and Planning Ministry of Education 1 North Buona Vista Drive Singapore 128675 COL activities in 2003-2006
Solomon Islands	Mr. Bernard Rapasia Chief Education Officer (TVET) Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development PO Box 628 Honiara Solomon Islands COL activities in 2003-2006
South Africa	Ms. Trudi van Wyk Director: Curriculum Innovation (Information and Communication Technologies) Department of Education Private Bag X895 Pretoria 0001 South Africa BIO Also represented on COL's Board as a major donor COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Sri Lanka	Mr. S.U. Wijeratne Additional Secretary Policy and Planning Unit Ministry of Education "Isurupaya" Battaramlla Sri Lanka COL activities in 2003-2006
St. Kitts & Nevis	Ms. Jacqueline Flemming Senior Assistant Secretary Ministry of Education, Youth, Social & Community Development and Gender Affairs P.O. Box 333 Church Street Basseterre St. Kitts & Nevis COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
St. Lucia	Dr. Rufina Frederick Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education & Culture 3rd & 4th Floors, Francis Compton Building The Waterfront Castries St. Lucia COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
St. Vincent & the Grenadines	Mrs. Susan Dougan Chief Education Officer Ministry of Education Halifax Street Kingstown St. Vincent & the Grenadines COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Swaziland	Mr. Sibusiso S. Mkhonta Director of Education Ministry of Education PO Box 39 Mbabane Swaziland COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Tanzania	Mrs. Lambertha H. Mahai Director of Institute of Adult Education P.O. Box 20679 Bibi Titi Mohamed Steet Dar es Salaam Tanzania COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
Tonga	Mrs. Sisilia Tu'ifua Takapautolo Acting Deputy Director of Education for the Post Secondary Division Ministry of Education P.O. Box 61 Nuku'alofa Tonga COL activities in 2003-2006
Trinidad &Tobago	Mrs. Lystra Sampson-Ovid Project Manager Distance Education Unit Ministry of Education #18 Abercromby Street Port of Spain Trinidad &Tobago and Ms. Karen Rosemin Director, Distance Learning Secretariat Ministry of Science, Technology & Tertiary Education Corner Agra & Patna Streets St. James Port of Spain Trinidad &Tobago BIO COL activities in 2003-2006
Tuvalu	Ms. Katalina P. Taloka Director of Education Ministry of Education & Sports Government of Tuvalu Private Mail Bag Funafuti Tuvalu COL activities in 2003-2006
Uganda	Mrs. Elizabeth K.M. Gabona Commissioner for Higher Education Ministry of Education and Sports Embassy House P.O. Box 7063 Kampala Uganda COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation
United Kingdom	Represented on COL's Board as a major donor
Vanuatu	Mr. Daniel Lamoureux Director-General Ministry of Education Private Mail Bag 028 Port Vila Vanuatu COL activities in 2003-2006
Zambia	Mr. Victor Muyatwa Director Directorate of Distance Education Ministry of Education Box 50093 Lusaka Zambia BIO COL activities in 2003-2006 Country Presentation