UNESCO organised a seminar in Benin, in French-speaking North-West Africa, between 16^th and 19^th May, 2005. The seminar drew representatives from many countries from across Africa, including teacher trainers, academics and government officials, as well as experts supplied by the French government, and Richard Bailey on behalf of ICSSPE. The event was in response to the outcome implementing process drafted at MINEPS IV (4^th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport) in Athens 2004.

The foci of the seminar were the development of International Quality Standards and benchmarking, as well as discussions concerning the ‘Universitiation’ of physical education. The seminar was made up of keynote presentations on a variety of aspects of significance to physical education in the African context, and plenary/workshop sessions, during which issues and concerns were debated. Certain themes came to the forefront during these debates such as:

A number of conversations took place regarding the level of detail necessary within any quality standards framework. Whilst some colleagues present were inclined towards the notion of an explicit list of outcomes, somewhat similar to ICHPERD·SD’s approach. However, my impression from this event was that the consensus was resistant to this idea, and was more persuaded by the need for something more flexible, process-orientated and reflective of the distinctive needs and concerns of the African continent.

Porto-Novo – Benin Republic, 16-19 May 2005We, delegates at the UNESCO Seminar on Quality of PES in Benin, having deliberated on various issues impacting the quality of PES, declare as follows that:

All member states should include PES curriculum in their education system and be committed towards its implementation.
In order to achieve quality PES, the curricula and training of teachers should be standardized.
PES should be universitarized.
PES should be made a compulsory part of the education curriculum and be examinable by education authorities in each member state, if possible, or a body should be established for that purpose.
PES programmes must be qualitatively assessed and accredited.
Building and implementation of capacity of directors of PES institutions is necessary.
Development of qualitative structures for PES in the education system is of critic?al necessity.
Strategies should be put in place to facilitate regional and international cooperation between PES specialists, institutions and countries.
It is necessary to establish an African network of PES professionals at the university level with scientific publications, including reviews, magazines, bulletins, newsletters and information databases, etc. Other regional networks should also be established.
It is necessary to develop structures for team research on PES thematics.
The establishment of a Technical Working Group is necessary to monitor standards for quality PES and ensure sustainability of regional initiatives.

Further events in Africa have been planned by UNESCO for 2006. We should all be aware of the particular challenges facing out African colleagues. However, the spirit of the Benin seminar and the forward-looking nature of its discussions suggest great promise for the development of PES in the continent.