HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE AND ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS URGE CONTINENT-WIDE DEDICATION TO TACKLE AFRICA’S EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES
A call to action has been issued by African youth voices, in collaboration with Human Capital Africa (HCA) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), urging African Heads of State and Government to prioritize and champion foundational learning in preparation for the African Union Year of Education.
The call emphasizes the need for leaders to acknowledge the significant learning crisis across the continent, commit to a continental strategy for its resolution, and invest in data and evidence to guide effective policies and interventions. The participants at the Human Capital Africa summit on foundational learning advocate for smart allocation of existing resources to proven tools, aiming to accelerate progress and ensure that every child in Africa has access to quality foundational education.
(image source: Techeconomy|Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (Human Capital Africa – HCA), Albert Nsengiyumva (ADEA), Mr. Conrad Sackey, Minister of Education, Sierra Leone, Mrs. Chikondano Mussa, Executive Secretary, Ministry of Education, Malawi, Dr. (Mrs.) K. O. O. Aderiye, Commissioner of Education, Ekiti State, Nigeria, Hon. Dr. Torerayi Moyo, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe)
During the summit, Heads of State and Government are urged to recognize the unacceptable reality that nine out of ten African children cannot read with understanding or perform basic math by age 10. The summit underscores the compounded impact on human capital and calls for immediate action.
The summit highlights the potential catastrophic consequences of not addressing the learning crisis, including adverse effects on secondary, tertiary, and TVET education outcomes, limited future employment opportunities, hindrance of at least ten Sustainable Development Goals, exacerbated health outcomes, increased youth unemployment, deeper poverty levels, and a negative impact on the future prospects of Africa’s private sector.
Erastus Mwencha, Human Capital Africa Advisor Board member, representing President Joyce Banda, Chair of the HCA Advisory Board, stressed the severity of the situation, stating that millions of dreams are deferred, potentials remain unfulfilled, and the future is compromised.
The event witnessed the presence of representatives from the African Foundational Learning Ministerial Coalition, formed to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective advocacy among African countries combatting the learning crisis.
Madalitso Wirima, the Minister of Education of Malawi and Chair of the Coalition, emphasized their united mission to ensure every child can read and perform mathematics, viewing it as a catalyst for positive change across the continent.
Former Minister of Finance of South Africa, Trevor Manuel, a member of the HCA Advisory Board, passionately called for a focused effort by Heads of State and Government to address the education crisis. He emphasized the need for actionable programs and not just declarations, urging leaders to understand the critical role education plays in unlocking Africa’s potential.
Special guest of honor, President Sahlework Zewde of Ethiopia, delivered a keynote address supporting the importance of education and acknowledging the declaration of 2024 as the African Year of Education.
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, CEO of Human Capital Africa, stressed the necessity for better data utilization and collection to ensure targeted and effective interventions. She called for evidence-based approaches and leadership from Heads of State.
Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of ADEA, emphasized the need for widespread sharing of concerns and urged systematic implementation at scale to address the learning crisis and its impact on continental priorities.
African youth, strongly represented at the summit, launched an online campaign to raise awareness of the challenge, emphasizing the urgency for action.
Co-convened by UNICEF and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the two-day summit was attended by representatives from the private sector, civil society, and implementing organizations. They called for increased investment in technology to enhance foundational learning, including access to digital resources and the implementation of e-learning platforms. The summit emphasized the crucial role of both teachers and students in acquiring the necessary skills to use technology effectively.
(News Source: Techeconomy)
