The two-hour meeting heard important presentations from senior representatives of IPA’s burgeoning African membership. These included Samuel Kolawole (Chair of the African Publishers Network), Lawrence Njagi (Executive Committee member and President of the Kenya Publishers Association) and Asare Yamoah (President of the Ghana Publishers Association). Each speaker gave an overview of the current state of play for educational publishers across Africa but especially in anglophone East and West Africa. Long-time EPF member Antti Rammo from Estonia also contributed to the African focus by discussing the successful collaboration between his publisher, Avita, and the Kenyan government.

The second hour of the meeting featured representatives from Brazil, China, Hungary, Russia, and Eastern Europe reporting on the effects of the COVID pandemic in their countries/regions and the practical measures that governments are taking in relation to the delivery of education there. There was also a brief discussion of the work of the EPF’s Working Group on EdTech/Big Tech.

The meeting approved an extension for one year (until June 2023) of the mandates of current EPF Chair, Stephan de Valk, and Vice Chair, Brian Gilsenan. And finally, it was agreed that the next meeting of the EPF would be a physical one — the first one in two years — and would be held in London on the day after the London Book Fair, Friday 8 April. Those delegates intending to participate are encouraged to join us for the traditional pre-meeting dinner the night before. Please email Graham Taylor on graham@thelonggame.org.uk to confirm your attendance.