November 17, 2024
5 mins read

Policymakers seek ways to end learning poverty in Africa 

United Nations, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Children attend a provisional class organized by kindergarten teacher Juliet Namanda at her home in Kampala, capital of Uganda, June 19, 2020. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua/IANS)

The meeting drew about 500 delegates, including ministers of education, development partners, and experts from across sub-Saharan Africa…reports Asian Lite News

Policymakers and educationists gathered at an education forum in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to discuss pathways to end learning poverty, a major threat to Africa’s future workforce. “Learning poverty” is the inability of children to meet basic literacy and numeracy milestones. 

The meeting drew about 500 delegates, including ministers of education, development partners, and experts from across sub-Saharan Africa, seeking to scale successful education initiatives that enhance foundational learning. 

“Learning poverty is unacceptable and a fundamental threat to the continent. Foundational learning is the cornerstone of all future learning. Prioritizing it is not an option,” Obiageli Ezekwesi, chief executive of Human Capital Africa, an advocacy organization, said at the opening of the forum. 

Ezekwesi, former Nigerian education minister, said action without accountability is not enough, adding that there must be a capacity to track progress on foundational learning. 

Rwandan Education Minister Joseph Nsengimana said the forum offers an opportunity for Africa to unite for collective growth and equip every child with the skills necessary to contribute to socioeconomic development. 

Wongani Taulo, education adviser at UNICEF Africa, said the continent “is running out of time to shape a generation of critical thinkers.” 

She argued that governments need to invest more in foundational learning to unlock the potential of millions of children across Africa. “The solutions lie with all of us, we must dedicate more resources to foundational learning and not forget pre-primary so that children are ready to enter school,” she said. 

Victoria Kwakwa, vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Bank, noted that education today builds the Africa of tomorrow, and to truly transform the continent, there is a need to invest in the next generation of learners. 

Underlining the need to strengthen partnerships with the private sector to boost foundational learning, participants said aligning resources, expertise, and innovation from both sectors would expand educational access, improve quality, and drive sustainable impact across communities. 

The forum, which will run through Wednesday, offers a platform for countries to exchange progress made on commitments in foundational learning at previous forums. 

Through a series of presentations, panels, round table discussions, and formal and informal dialogue, participants will share knowledge derived from foundational learning efforts on the continent and jointly plan the way forward toward meeting targets. 

The learning poverty rate in sub-Saharan Africa stands at around 90 percent, according to the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, which could affect the continent’s future workforce. 

Failure to act, however, could result in economic losses of up to 17 trillion dollars across the continent. 

The World Bank estimates a 97 billion dollar funding gap in education for sub-Saharan Africa. 

Officials have called for committed and collaborative action among African nations and development partners to improve the situation. 

Etleva Kadilli, regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa of the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF, said ensuring prosperity across Africa requires greater political commitments and investment that are turned into concrete action. 

“Governments must reach every child and keep them in school, assess learning outcomes regularly, support teachers to deliver the basics, and develop children’s mental health and well-being,” she said. “Only then will children attain the reading, math, and socio-emotional skills necessary for them to progress to higher forms of education and realize their further potential.” 

The campaign is poised to build on the momentum generated during the event, with plans for ongoing advocacy, research, and collaboration over the coming months. The campaign seeks to mobilize resources, advocate for policy change, and drive community-level engagement to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education. 

Prof. Mohamed Belhocine, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) noted that there is an urgency to address the learning deficit in Africa, a continent where 9 out of 10 children in Africa cannot read or solve basic arithmetic by the age of 10. 

“Achieving meaningful change in foundational learning requires the collaboration of all sectors—government, civil society, and international organizations. We must mobilize our resources and our political will to turn these discussions into action,” he said during the Foundational Learning Conference under the theme “Inclusive Education: Ensuring No Child is Left Behind. 

Ben Piper, Director of Global Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called for an evidence-based approach to tackling Africa’s education challenges. “The solutions lie in leveraging data to guide our interventions and scaling proven models across the continent. We must move beyond discussions and commit to real, measurable progress,” said Ben. 

Dr. Laila Gad, UNICEF Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said to tackle the learning crisis, Africa must ensure that every child, regardless of their location or background, receives the support they need to develop essential literacy and numeracy skills. “We are committed to working with governments and partners across the continent to drive forward these reforms.” 

The conference highlighted challenges in Africa’s education sector, including access to quality education, improving teacher quality, and policy implementation. It highlighted successful initiatives like the “Catch Up” Program, which improved literacy and numeracy in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Participants emphasized the need for significant investment, political will, and collaboration to close the learning gap and ensure sustainable improvements in educational outcomes. 

ALSO READ: Diplomats of 14 countries visit Odisha Sun Temple 

Previous Story

Senegal ex-president makes political comeback from afar 

Next Story

Gabon votes on a new constitution 

Latest from -Top News

India, US Step Up Trade Talks

The development comes in the backdrop of the new US ambassador Sergio Gor taking charge in the US embassy is New Delhi….reports Asian Lite News India and the United States are progressing

Lanka Marks Next Phase of Indian Housing Drive

Phases III and IV of the Indian Housing Project highlight India’s commitment to supporting and empowering Sri Lanka’s Indian-origin Tamil community….reports Asian Lite News Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday

Hamas Frees Captives

The Israeli Air Force announced that it has completed its preparations to receive hostages returning from Gaza to Israel….reports Asian Lite News The Red Cross has taken custody of the first group

China’s Grab for Africa

China’s investments aim to strengthen its geopolitical influence and its high-tech manufacturing sector in Africa…reports Asian Lute News China is further consolidating its dominance in the rare earth elements sector by expanding
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Ghana Shines At Dubai Expo

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime

Nigeria’s ruling APC party picks new leader ahead of 2023 elections

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party has picked Abdullahi