The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) of the African Union Commission, Prof. Mohammed Belhocine has highlighted the progress made towards achieving the educational goals outlined in the Guidance Note and Roadmap adopted at the February 2024 Summit.
This roadmap includes ten key objectives aimed at reforming the teaching profession, enhancing STEM and foundational learning, teaching African history, strengthening higher education and TVET, driving digital transformation, creating healthy learning environments, improving equitable access, bolstering education data, and increasing sustainable financing for education.
Prof. Belhocine disclosed this during the AU 6th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) on Friday in Accra detailing the alignment of the 10 objectives of the Roadmap for implementing the theme of the year with the AU Agenda 2063.
He stated, “The strategic pre-launch ceremony held during the February 2024 Summit underscored the critical importance of education. Keynote speakers, including AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat and Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, emphasized the need for transformative educational practices to drive Africa’s development.”
He noted that the AU’s active contribution to the Fourteenth Policy Dialogue Forum in Johannesburg focused on addressing the global teacher shortage, adding, “It highlighted that sub-Saharan Africa requires over 15 million teachers by 2030 to achieve universal education.”
On teaching African History, he said the AU organised a symposium on teaching African history, aiming to correct historical narratives and foster a sense of pride and identity among African students. The symposium highlighted UNESCO’s General History of Africa as a crucial resource.
The Commissioner added that the Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (RIAE) meeting and the introduction of the “Better Education for Africa’s Advancement” (BEAR III) project were examples of initiatives to improve the employability and skill sets of African youth.
On African School Feeding Day, he noted that the ninth African School Feeding Day celebration in Burundi showcased the impact of school feeding programmes on education and local economies.
“High-level dignitaries, including the President of Burundi and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, participated in the event,” he added.
Also, he stated that the AU, in collaboration with PAPS, JICA, UNESCO-IICBA, UNICEF, and the Sahel countries, organised a seminar on the role of education in building peace in Africa, focusing on the Sahel region.
“The seminar, themed “Learning for Sustainable Peace,” brought together educators, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to discuss how education can promote peacebuilding. The importance of education in reducing radicalism and promoting cooperation, dialogue, and peace are among the key lessons learned,” he added.
According to the Commissioner, the G7 Working Group on Education and a roundtable with Canada focused on promoting inclusive TVET, especially for marginalised groups, with Canada announcing significant financial support for AU TVET programs.
He also disclosed that the AU’s International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (CIEFFA) hosted a major event in Addis Ababa, advocating for gender-sensitive education policies based on comprehensive data analysis.
He further pointed out that a collaborative report with UNICEF on education expenditure in Africa, released on the Day of the African Child, provided critical insights and recommendations for ensuring quality education for all African children.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to implementing the Roadmap’s objectives and reiterated the importance of ongoing strategic collaboration with education stakeholders to build resilient education systems that provide inclusive, continuous, and quality learning throughout Africa.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
