Africa's initiatives, through Agenda 2063, to reorient African education and training to meet the knowledge, skills and innovation are starting to bear fruit.
Briefing members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) during the Strategic Reorientation Workshop, as August Sittings of Permanent Committees get underway, Mr Hamai Masheleni Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union Commission said the continent has moved in leaps and bounds in efforts to nurture African core values and promote sustainable development at all levels. He added that there have been concerted efforts to ensure the transformation of the education sector to meet market needs.
"The future of this continent lies in education therefore we have a mandate to work on policies that benefit us. We have been mandated to work on basic and secondary education, higher education, technical and vocational education, build and harness science and technology and also on human capital and innovation," said Mr Masheleni.
To this end, a Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) was put in place and is the driving arm of human resources development for Agenda 2063. It has been addressing the equity crisis, learning crisis, relevance and affordability of education in Africa.
"Too many children are out of school or are dropping out of school. Over 20% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 are out of school. The quality of education and learning itself is also leading to too many children and young people not achieving minimum competencies for work and life. In essence, CESA seeks to reorient Africa's education and promote sustainable development at all levels to achieve the Africa we want,” Said Mr Masheleni.
The President of the PAP, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira said that the Pan-African Parliament's role is pivotal through the encouragement of national parliaments to invest in education, science, technology and innovation. UNESCO recommends 20% of the total national budget be dedicated to education. “The PAP will also advocate for ratification of enabling instruments targeting mobility and portability of skills and boosting intra-Africa collaboration.”
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