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ASLA
African School Leaders' Association

News & Insights

Stories from the road to ASLA.

Announcements, leadership insights and dispatches from the schools and leaders shaping Africa's continental alliance.

ASLA Call for Speakers — Webinar Series 2026–2027
LatestOpportunity · 12 September 2026

Call for Speakers: ASLA Webinar Series 2026–2027.

Share your expertise. Inspire school leaders. Help shape the future of education in Africa.

ASLA is inviting experienced educators, school leaders, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and education professionals to contribute as speakers to our 2026–2027 Webinar Series. Our founding-year webinars bring school leaders from across Africa together for practical conversations around the issues shaping our schools.

Our areas of focus

We welcome speakers with expertise across our nine pillars:

  • Leadership & Governance
  • Teaching & Learning
  • Wellbeing & Inclusion
  • Technology & Innovation
  • Sustainability & Resource Management
  • People & Culture
  • Safeguarding & Child Protection
  • Community & Partnerships
  • Policy, Advocacy & Systems Change

Our founding-year programme includes conversations on literacy, girls' education, safeguarding, inclusion, AI in education, growth-ready schools, women in leadership, boys' wellbeing, and the educational challenges facing the African child.

Why speak at ASLA?

  • • Share your knowledge and real-world experience
  • • Reach a growing pan-African audience of school leaders
  • • Contribute practical solutions to challenges facing African schools
  • • Connect with education leaders and professionals across the continent
  • • Help shape conversations that strengthen school leadership and education

We are particularly interested in speakers who bring practical insight, evidence, experience and perspectives relevant to African schools. Selected speakers will be contacted by the ASLA team with further details.

Speaker Interest Form

Register your interest to become an ASLA speaker

Which of our 9 pillars can you speak on?
International Literacy Day 2026 — #LetMeLearn campaign poster
LatestCampaign · 31 August 2026

Introducing #LetMeLearn, our first Founding Year Campaign.

Our founding year begins on 8 September 2026, International Literacy Day, marking its sixtieth anniversary under UNESCO's global theme, "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity."

ASLA's own theme for the campaign is Let Me Learn, and we are inviting every member school across the continent to take part.

Two things to prepare: a photograph of one pupil holding a #LetMeLearn placard, and a video of a pupil or group of pupils reciting our original poem, "Let Me Learn." Both are due by 6 September, and everything submitted will be published together in a continent-wide gallery and video montage on International Literacy Day itself, alongside ASLA's very first webinar, The State of Literacy in African Schools.

The guide below has everything your school needs: the placard specifications, the complete poem text, submission instructions, and the full campaign timeline.

Download the Programme Guide →

8 Sept

Literacy Day

6 Sept

Submissions due

2

Ways to take part

Complete Safeguarding Essentials for African Schools — free launch course
Training31 August 2026

ASLA launches free safeguarding training for leaders and staff with certification.

The African School Leaders' Association has partnered with Safeticha, Africa's leading EdTech solution, and Onkar Consult, a training and certifying body, to launch a free safeguarding course for school leaders and staff.

This course covers the basics of safeguarding, including what to look out for and how to deal with safeguarding concerns and disclosures. Safeguarding is mandated by child protection laws around the world and is the hallmark of a growth-ready school that prioritises pupil wellbeing.

Start the course →

7

Lessons

Free

Launch offer

Cert

On completion

ASLA Inaugural Meeting — Saturday 22 August, Zoom, 11 AM (WAT)
Announcement22 August 2026

ASLA holds its Inaugural Meeting

On Saturday 22 August, the African School Leaders' Association convened its inaugural meeting on Zoom, hosted by Founder Princess Akinpelu and joined by guest Ernest Gavor of the BETT Africa Pavilion.

Download the Founding Year Calendar (PDF) →

Princess Akinpelu presented ASLA's vision to connect school leaders across Africa and strengthen leadership capacity. ASLA aims to represent school leaders from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and Rwanda in its founding year, guided by nine strategic pillars: safeguarding and child protection, reducing learning poverty, championing innovation, research and development, girls' education, addressing the talent gap, showcasing exceptional talent, inclusion and accessibility, and serving as a collective voice for advocacy.

The year ahead

ASLA will celebrate key education days each month of its founding year — beginning with International Literacy Day on 8 September and World Teachers' Day on 5 October, and continuing through 2027 — alongside a monthly leadership webinar series, reports and practical guides. The year will culminate in ASLA's official commissioning event in August 2027. The full programme is set out in the ASLA Founding Year Calendar 2026–2027.

BETT Global partnership

Princess also announced a partnership with BETT Global for the world's largest education technology conference in January, offering African school leaders the opportunity to attend curated events for African educators and participate in the Africa Pavilion. Five to ten delegates will be selected to represent different African regions — read more and register your interest in the BETT UK 2027 delegation announcement below.

Next steps

  • All attendees are invited to complete the ASLA Founding Member Survey and to register on the website if not already registered.
  • Attendees are encouraged to invite fellow school leaders to join ASLA by sharing the registration link.
  • Guidance documents will be shared for International Literacy Day, World Teachers' Day, Day of Persons with Disabilities, International Day of Education, World Book Day and Day of the African Child.
  • Interested school leaders can fill out the form to indicate interest in attending the BETT Global Conference in January.
  • ASLA will work towards securing grants and partnerships for logistical support for delegates attending the conference.

The meeting also discussed ASLA's planned book drive initiative to address literacy challenges in schools, bringing in experts to help improve reading habits across all stakeholders, with funding sought through grants and public goodwill as a company limited by guarantee. Participants closed the meeting with warm and positive feedback on the initiative.

Join the ASLA Leadership Delegation to BETT UK 2027
FeaturedOpportunity · 21 July 2026

Join the ASLA Leadership Delegation to BETT UK 2027

Represent African school leadership on the global stage. ASLA is inviting Expressions of Interest from school owners, principals, headteachers and senior education leaders to join the inaugural delegation to BETT UK, 18–22 January 2027 at ExCeL London.

Register your interest →Learn about BETT →

The African School Leaders Association (ASLA) is delighted to invite Expressions of Interest from school owners, principals, headteachers and senior education leaders who wish to be considered for the inaugural ASLA Leadership Delegation to BETT UK 2027.

As part of a new partnership with the Africa Pavilion at BETT UK, ASLA has been invited to lead a delegation of African school leaders to participate in a series of specially curated Africa-focused events, bringing together governments, Ministries of Education, education innovators, development partners, investors and global EdTech organisations to shape the future of education across the continent.

Throughout the week, ASLA will also host a presence at the Africa Pavilion, where we will showcase our work, engage with strategic partners and represent the interests of African school leaders in conversations that will influence the future of education.

What to Expect

Selected delegates will have the opportunity to participate in:

  • Leapfrog Live – The Grand Baobab (18–19 January): An exclusive pre-BETT summit bringing together African education leaders, government representatives, innovators and international partners to explore the future of education across Africa.
  • BETT UK & the Africa Pavilion (20–22 January): Experience the world's largest education technology exhibition, explore emerging innovations, attend leadership sessions, connect with leading education organisations and build relationships with partners from across the globe.

Why Apply?

As an ASLA Delegate, you will:

  • Represent African school leadership at one of the world's leading education events.
  • Explore innovative technologies and solutions that can improve teaching, learning and school leadership.
  • Build relationships with fellow school leaders from across Africa.
  • Connect with international education organisations, innovators and strategic partners.
  • Gain insights into emerging trends shaping the future of education.
  • Return as an ASLA Ambassador, sharing your learning with colleagues across the continent.

Following BETT, all delegates will participate in an exclusive ASLA BETT Debrief Webinar, where key insights, innovations and practical takeaways will be shared with the wider ASLA community.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome Expressions of Interest from:

  • School Owners and Proprietors
  • Principals
  • Headteachers
  • Executive Heads
  • Directors of Schools
  • Senior School Leaders

Selection Process

Approximately 5–10 school leaders will be selected to form the inaugural ASLA Leadership Delegation, but all school leaders are welcome to register directly with BETT. Selection will be based on leadership experience, commitment to educational improvement, regional representation and willingness to contribute to the growth of the ASLA community.

Selected delegates will receive personalised invitation letters and logistical support (not including visa or flight fees).

Expression of Interest Form

Thank you for your interest in joining the inaugural ASLA Leadership Delegation to BETT UK 2027. If you would like to be considered, please complete the form below.

Please complete this form as accurately as possible. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted with further information regarding the delegation, expected costs and next steps.

Section 1: Personal Information

Section 2: Professional Information

Section 3: About You

Section 4: Travel Readiness

Do you currently hold a valid passport?
Will you require a UK visa?
Have you previously travelled internationally for professional learning?
Are you able to pay the visa and flight fees?

Section 5: Declaration

Together, let's ensure African school leaders are not only present where global education conversations take place, but are helping to shape them.

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ASLA officially kicks off: A pan-African alliance of school leaders begins.
Announcement1 September 2026

ASLA officially kicks off: A pan-African alliance of school leaders begins.

The African School Leaders' Association opens its founding year, inviting verified school owners, principals and senior leaders from every region of Africa to help shape a continental professional body launching officially in August 2027.

Monthly leadership webinar series launches with 'Building Growth Ready Schools'.
WebinarsSeptember 2026

Monthly leadership webinar series launches with 'Building Growth Ready Schools'.

Our founding programme opens with themes drawn from The Growth Ready School — covering school leadership, financial sustainability, safeguarding and AI in education.

Regional communities forming across West, East, Southern, Central and North Africa.
RegionalOctober 2026

Regional communities forming across West, East, Southern, Central and North Africa.

As founding membership grows, ASLA is organising regional communities to enable local networking, country-specific discussion and cross-border collaboration.

First continental survey on the realities of leading African schools opens.
ResearchNovember 2026

First continental survey on the realities of leading African schools opens.

ASLA members are invited to contribute to a landmark survey exploring leadership challenges, school finance, teacher recruitment, safeguarding and student wellbeing.

Consultation on the ASLA constitution and governance framework begins.
GovernanceMarch 2027

Consultation on the ASLA constitution and governance framework begins.

Founding members will help shape the constitution, committee structure and election framework that will govern the African School Leaders' Association.

Nominations open for Regional Representatives and Board of Governors.
LeadershipApril 2027

Nominations open for Regional Representatives and Board of Governors.

The path to a fully representative continental body begins with open nominations and elections across every African region.

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