Representatives from the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SEACMEQ) member states gathered in South Africa from 31 August to 4 September 2026 for a week-long technical and working meeting aimed at strengthening regional collaboration, reviewing the implementation of SEACMEQ activities, and ensuring that education data is effectively translated into policy and practice. Hosted at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng, the meeting brought together National Research Coordinators, technical experts, and education officials from participating countries for intensive discussions on the future of the SEACMEQ.
The meeting provided an important platform for countries to reflect on lessons emerging from SEACMEQ V, examine the interpretation and use of assessment data, share national experiences, and identify practical measures to strengthen the implementation of future SEACMEQ cycles. At the heart of the discussions was a shared recognition that SEACMEQ is more than an assessment programme. It is a regional platform through which African countries generate comparable evidence, learn from one another and work collectively to improve the quality and equity of education.
South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to supporting SEACMEQ and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the consortium remains relevant in the 21st Century. A major focus of the meeting was the importance of strong national structures in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of SEACMEQ.
Country experiences showed that staff movements and weak handover mechanisms can result in the loss of institutional knowledge. SEACMEQ country participants proposed establishing dedicated national SEACMEQ units or centres that could maintain records, documentation, technical expertise, and institutional memory. The discussions emphasised that SEACMEQ should be institutionalised within countries rather than relying on individual officials.
A key proposal was to institutionalise SEACMEQ contributions within national budgeting processes to ensure that funding remains consistent despite changes in personnel or government administrations. A strong message throughout the meeting was the need to ensure that SEACMEQ findings are not confined to reports.
Participants called for greater access to SEACMEQ documentation, national reports, and analytical materials, particularly for newly appointed officials. Sharing knowledge and experiences across member states was seen as an important way of strengthening institutional capacity and improving the quality of national reporting. The meeting also highlighted the need for continuous advocacy to ensure that new ministers, officials, and governments understand the value of SEACMEQ and remain committed to the consortium.
As the meeting concluded, member states identified several priorities for the future, including stronger national SEACMEQ structures, continuous technical capacity building, improved data interpretation, sustainable financing, digitalisation, stronger regional collaboration, and greater use of SEACMEQ evidence in national education planning. The discussions also highlighted the importance of clear timelines throughout future assessment cycles, from planning and data collection through to data cleaning, analysis, reporting, and dissemination. The five-day engagement provided an opportunity for SEACMEQ member states to reflect on the lessons of SEACMEQ V while strengthening their collective vision for the future.
The meeting reaffirmed that the true value of SEACMEQ lies not simply in collecting data, but in understanding it, learning from it, and turning evidence into action. Through continued collaboration, stronger national structures, and investment in technical capacity, SEACMEQ remains well positioned to support countries in making informed decisions that advance the quality and equity of education across Southern and Eastern Africa.