Governance

Mission

PASMAE concerns itself with the promotion of musical arts education throughout Africa. It is constituted as an autonomous society that operates on a non-profit basis and is the representative arm of Africa in ISME.

The purpose of the Society is to foster music and arts in the education of people of all ages throughout Africa; to enable all such people to enjoy music and to take part freely in community music activities; to provide a forum for discussion, debate and advocacy of musical arts education related matters, and to assist music educators in the preservation, promotion and teaching/learning of the music cultures of human society while developing creative and competent musicians for the contemporary world.

PASMAE operates to recognised structures that outline a purpose, structure and rules.

The Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education (PASMAE) was initially founded as PASME, the Pan African Society for Music Education, in Zimbabwe in August 2000. The first edition of the newly named PASMAE Constitution and Bylaws was approved at the conference in Lusaka, Zambia in 2001. PASMAE has gone from strength to strength over the past 17 years.

PASMAE promotes Musical Arts Education throughout Africa. It endeavours to foster music and arts in the education of people of all ages throughout the continent, enabling all such people to enjoy music and to take part freely in community music activities. Providing a forum for discussion, debate, and advocacy of musical arts education-related matters, it assists music educators in the preservation, promotion and teaching/learning of the music cultures of human society while developing creative and competent musicians for the contemporary world.

PASMAE believes that lived experiences of music, in all their many aspects, are a vital part of the life of all people.

PASMAE’s mission is to enhance those experiences by:

  • Building and maintaining a worldwide community of music educators characterized by mutual respect and support.
  • Fostering global intercultural understanding and cooperation among the world’s music educators.
  • Promoting music education for people of all ages in all relevant situations throughout the world.

Constitution and Bylaws

PASMAE derives its authority from its membership, who empowers the Society to act on their behalf in advocacy, coordinating and advisory roles in matters concerning musical arts education and its practice in Africa. It is furthermore bolstered by its status as an ISME affiliate, and in turn by ISME’s position relative to the IMC (International Music Council) and UNESCO.

The Society canvasses the recognition and support of world as well 2019 PASMAE Constitution+Bylaws as African bodies such as the African Union, UNESCO and the IMC in the execution of its objectives. Individual African governments will also be approached to give encouragement to the formation of national music education associations where none currently exist, or to support the affiliation of any such society, as the case may be, with PASMAE, for the mutual benefits imperative.

  • PASMAE Constitution and Bylaws were unanimously approved by the PASMAE General Assembly, 1st July 2017, Mbabane, Swaziland.
  • Amendments to the Bylaws were unanimously approved by the PASMAE General Assembly, 4th July 2019, Victoria, Seychelles.

Partners

PASMAE is honoured to partner with The NAMM FoundationISME and the European University of Cyprus.

These organisations provide much needed and appreciated support for PASMAE and PASMAE members.

For more information about how to become a PASMAE partner, contact the operations manager.

Elections

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws.  PASMAE holds elections every second year to elect the Executive Committee. All members are invited to stand for election and to vote.

When the election process is open, from the call for nominations through to announcement of the new Board, you can find up-to-date information here.

General Assembly Minutes

Minutes from the General Assembly are distributed to all members and available here: