Continental Education Conference: Aiming For A Decade Of Transformative Action In Education And Skills Development Across Africa
African continental education conference organized by the African Union in partnership with UNICEF and hosted by the Republic of Mauritania. The conference aims to advocate the promotion of successful and innovative solutions to achieve high-quality and equitable education to meet Africa’s 21st century needs, explore and agree on sustainable financing mechanisms for African education, and pave the way for African education. The African Union proposed to designate 2025 to 2034 as the “Decade of Action to Accelerate Education Transformation and Skills Development in Africa” ​​to realize the long-term vision of education as a catalyst for Africa’s development. Africa. “
Her Excellency Mrs. Houda Babach, Mauritania’s Minister of Education and Reform, delivered a welcome address demonstrating Mauritania’s commitment to this transformative goal. She reiterated the view that education is a major force behind the continent’s wealth and sustainable development and highlighted the value of regional cooperation in achieving these goals.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Professor Mohamed Belhosin, highlighted the significant progress made in advancing Africa’s education agenda. He highlighted key achievements including:
- Strategic update under Agenda 2063
- As part of the Second Decade Plan, the Education and Skills Development Strategy was revised to align with emerging global and continental priorities.
- Implementation of core initiatives
- this Education Strategy for the African Continent (CESA 16-25) Plays an important role in improving the accessibility, quality and relevance of education.
- this Vocational Education and Training Strategy Support technical and vocational education to ensure it meets the needs of the modern economy.
- Obvious success story
- Governments are increasingly placing education high on their national agendas.
- The community actively invests in children’s learning.
- Young people advocate for access to education and the skills they need for a sustainable future.
These developments mark collective progress in providing Africans with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. “This Continental Education Conference is a unique opportunity to jointly plan the next stage of this journey. Over the next three days we will explore several topics, including how technology can be used to expand learning opportunities and improve the quality of learning , using data and evidence; strengthening education financing to ensure sustainable and equitable level of investment; promote curriculum reform and innovation that links education and skills development to the needs of the modern economy; support educators as the cornerstone of our education systems and ultimately the development of our countries; Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission His Excellency Professor Mohammad Belhosin said:
Professor Belhosin concluded with an inspiring call to action, highlighting the potential for redefining Africa’s future through education. He stressed the need for unrelenting commitment to provide equitable and transformative educational opportunities for Africa’s youth, ensuring they are empowered to build a prosperous continent.
Ms Nancy Chaola Mdooka, Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Education and Chairperson of the Professional and Technical Committee, outlined a vision to address these gaps through innovative and inclusive education models while calling for enhanced skills development and partnerships across the continent.
Addressing the continental education conference in Nouakchott, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr. Gilles Faganinou, stressed the urgent need for strategic investments in education to address Africa’s challenges. Through compelling examples and statistics, he highlights the risks of underinvestment and the transformative potential of well-targeted education reforms in line with Agenda 2063.
Over the next three days, the conference will host a high-level political dialogue, technical meetings and ministerial panel discussions at the Nouakchott Conference Palace. These discussions will culminate in the adoption of the Nouakchott Declaration, which is expected to chart a concrete path forward for transforming Africa’s education systems over the next decade.
