On World Teachers’ Day 2026, we celebrate the teachers who continue to learn, lead and shape the future of education.
This year’s theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,” is a timely reminder of the vital role teachers play in driving meaningful educational transformation. Across the Commonwealth, COL is working with partners to strengthen teachers’ confidence with AI and emerging technologies, expand collaborative professional learning, and recognise continuous professional development through micro-credentials.
As we celebrate Lesotho’s recent Independence Day, we recognise the country’s continued efforts to widen access to quality learning through more flexible approaches. Its National Policy on Open and Distance Learning is helping establish a stronger national framework for learning beyond traditional classrooms.
With the transformation of the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre into the College of Open and Distance Learning of Lesotho started, the country is expanding open schooling and creating more pathways for people to learn. In higher education, institutions are also advancing technology-enabled learning, employability, and flexible study options, including the introduction of micro credentials, to make education more relevant and accessible.
COL is honoured to work alongside partners in Lesotho as they continue to widen opportunities for people to learn, build skills and shape their futures.
As Cyprus marks the anniversary of its independence, we celebrate its contribution to the Commonwealth and its commitment to collaboration in open education.
Through the small states community and the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), Cyprus brings valuable perspectives to our shared work to expand learning opportunities and strengthen institutions.
We commend the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth for advancing these goals through the Strategic Plan for the Improvement and Upgrading of Higher Education in Cyprus. Its priorities include quality and excellence, stronger links with the labour market, internationalisation, and positioning Cyprus as an international centre for higher education.
For small states, these ambitions highlight the value of working across borders to share expertise, encourage innovation and widen access to education. COL looks forward to building on its partnership with Cyprus through VUSSC and other initiatives to advance more inclusive, innovative and accessible education.
As we celebrate Lesotho’s recent Independence Day, we recognise the country’s continued efforts to widen access to quality learning through more flexible approaches. Its National Policy on Open and Distance Learning is helping establish a stronger national framework for learning
As Cyprus marks the anniversary of its independence, we celebrate its contribution to the Commonwealth and its commitment to collaboration in open education.
Through the small states community and the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), Cyprus brings
On Nigeria’s Independence Day, the Commonwealth of Learning congratulates the Government and people of Nigeria and celebrates the country’s commitment to education and development. Nigeria hosts COL’s Regional Training and Research Institute for
Research on women’s access to STEM education points to progress. But are those gains translating into equal opportunities to build careers and lead?
COL’s Women in STEM initiative (WiSE) is examining the gaps behind this question, bringing together researchers, policymakers and civil society to develop solutions that expand opportunities for women across STEM education, employment and leadership.
At a recent workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stakeholders from Brunei, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, The Gambia and Uganda discussed barriers, shared lessons on more inclusive policy and practice, and identified practical actions to help more women participate, progress and lead in STEM.
Rwanda’s higher education and teacher training institutions are taking important steps towards the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI). Through a collaboration between the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the Higher Education Council (HEC) and the University of Rwanda (UR), representatives from nine higher education and teacher training institutions have come together in Kigali, Rwanda, for a three-day session to develop and strengthen institutional AI policies and guidelines.
The initiative aims to establish a coherent, future-ready framework that enables institutions to harness AI to improve the quality of education, foster innovation and promote ethical practices. The policies are being developed in alignment with national guidance from HEC as well as regional frameworks from the Inter-University Council for East Africa.
Opening the event, Dr Olivier Habimana, Head of the Department of Digitalisation and Research at HEC, highlighted the importance of clear AI policies and other institutional measures to support the effective integration of AI in education. In his welcoming remarks, Professor Florien Nsanganwimana, Principal of the College of Education at the University of Rwanda, emphasised the critical role of teachers in preparing learners for an AI-enabled future, noting the importance of AI literacy and ethics in supporting students.
This activity forms part of COL’s broader work in AI for Teacher Education work across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. It reflects our commitment to promoting shared learning, locally relevant and collaborative solutions, open educational resources, and the responsible and sustainable integration of AI across education systems.
“Our task is not simply to put AI tools in teachers’ hands, but to strengthen their agency to decide when, why and how AI can improve teaching and learning,” says Dr Betty Ogange, Education Specialist: Teacher Education at the Commonwealth of Learning.
As AI becomes an increasingly integral part of education, responsible integration must begin with teacher education and professional development. This means embedding AI literacy, ethics, critical thinking and inclusive practices into teacher education policies, curricula and assessment.
Our latest story looks at how South Africa is translating AI literacy into practical action across teacher education. Read more at the news link in our bio. #ArtificialIntelligence #TeacherEducation #AILiteracy #Teachers #InclusiveEducation #SouthAfrica @highereduza @universityofpretoria @university_of_cape_town
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