Quality education tops AU agenda
Push for upscaling investment in education
Quality education provides individuals a chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities and promotes non-violent solutions to conflict, an AU commissioner said last week.
As African countries continue to grapple with the provision and access to quality education, the African Union (AU) and partners have called for rigorous efforts for a digital transformation of education systems.
This, they said, will promote equitable and inclusive education.
The joint call was made at the opening of the 44th Ordinary Session of the executive council of the AU on Wednesday last week at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This past weekend's AU meeting of African leaders was themed ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’
Claver Gatete, the United Nations undersecretary-general and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said Africa is witnessing a digital shift in the global workforce.
He said that there is no doubt that it makes good business sense to upscale investments in Africa’s education system towards areas that enhance productive capabilities and boost global competitiveness.
Essential ingredients
Gatete said sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification remain the most promising channels for jobs and wealth creation.
“Innovation will be the foundation to achieve this. Therefore, improvements in education, especially investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), are sine qua non to building the requisite productive capabilities. To make the African Continental Free Trade Area work, we need a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, engineering and innovation,” he said.
Gatete said Africa cannot afford to play small amid the fourth industrial revolution, and it must be a driver or risk missing yet another opportunity. He said the continent can build technological capabilities to foster value addition in strategic sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, green transitions and global health. Gatete emphasised that it is time for Africa to urgently translate its promises into tangible actions.
Education can prevent violence
Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, shared similar views on Wednesday, saying it is of critical importance for African countries to prioritise and invest in education.
“Education will change the face of the continent, offering unlimited opportunities, especially for the girl child,” Adeoye said, adding that education is key to breaking the cycle of violence in Africa.
He said access to quality education equips individuals to contribute meaningfully to their communities, engage in constructive dialogue and seek non-violent solutions to conflicts.
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This, they said, will promote equitable and inclusive education.
The joint call was made at the opening of the 44th Ordinary Session of the executive council of the AU on Wednesday last week at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This past weekend's AU meeting of African leaders was themed ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’
Claver Gatete, the United Nations undersecretary-general and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said Africa is witnessing a digital shift in the global workforce.
He said that there is no doubt that it makes good business sense to upscale investments in Africa’s education system towards areas that enhance productive capabilities and boost global competitiveness.
Essential ingredients
Gatete said sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification remain the most promising channels for jobs and wealth creation.
“Innovation will be the foundation to achieve this. Therefore, improvements in education, especially investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), are sine qua non to building the requisite productive capabilities. To make the African Continental Free Trade Area work, we need a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, engineering and innovation,” he said.
Gatete said Africa cannot afford to play small amid the fourth industrial revolution, and it must be a driver or risk missing yet another opportunity. He said the continent can build technological capabilities to foster value addition in strategic sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, green transitions and global health. Gatete emphasised that it is time for Africa to urgently translate its promises into tangible actions.
Education can prevent violence
Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, shared similar views on Wednesday, saying it is of critical importance for African countries to prioritise and invest in education.
“Education will change the face of the continent, offering unlimited opportunities, especially for the girl child,” Adeoye said, adding that education is key to breaking the cycle of violence in Africa.
He said access to quality education equips individuals to contribute meaningfully to their communities, engage in constructive dialogue and seek non-violent solutions to conflicts.
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