Education stakeholders call for increased collaboration in education delivery in the East Africa region; propose strategies to ensure Africa reaps its demographic dividend
Regional and continental education stakeholders converged in Arusha, Tanzania, to discuss pathways to accelerate improved educational outcomes in East Africa. The conference theme, Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Collective Action for Quality, Inclusive, and Life-long Learning in East Africa, aligns with the theme for the year of education designated by the African Union. Stakeholders, including government officials, researchers, implementing, and development partners agreed that greater collaboration was imperative to build and maximize the potential of the youthful population in the region and groom a skilled workforce in Africa.
The conference commenced with pre-conference workshops on Monday, 12th August 2024. But the official opening, which took place on Tuesday, 13th August, at the Arusha International Conference Centre, was graced by the Vice-President of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango. While opening the conference, Dr Mpango recognized the substantial progress in harmonizing educational systems in the East African region and called for greater partnership among its Partner States to build a common front in tackling education challenges.
“Despite the efforts that have been made, much still needs to be done. The education systems in EAC Partner States are faced with several challenges at nearly all levels, related mainly to access to education, quality of education systems, teacher quality and capacities, financing, learning and integration of ICT, digitalization of education systems, and coping with emerging issues in education, like the development of Artificial Intelligence and green education. Since most of the above challenges are common to EAC Partner States, they can be better addressed through joint and concerted efforts under regional platforms of the East African Community”.
Dr Mpango urged for increased investment in education and health by all countries in Africa to ensure the continent reaps from its demographic dividend.
In his opening remarks, Senior Programs Officer, Mr. Shem Bodo, representing the Executive Secretary of ADEA, recognized the value of the conference as a powerful platform for empowerment, which aligns with ADEA’s new five-year strategic plan. He further urged for the conference to be sustained as an annual event to highlight the essence of education in Africa.
“This conference, Your Excellency, provides such a platform for empowerment. The theme of the conference is not only aligned with that of the 2024 Year of Education as designated by member states of the African Union, its nine sub-themes speak to the four strategic pillars of our own Strategic Plan 2024-2028, underpinned by the core values of resilience, excellence, advocacy and leadership. As I conclude, Your Excellency, it is our hope as ADEA, that these partnerships continue to grow to contribute to strengthening the resilience of Africa’s educational systems. We, therefore, call upon the East African Community Secretariat and the Partner States to consider having this conference as a regular event, where partner States and education actors engage”.
Mr. Bodo recounted ADEA’s initiatives and projects targeted at improving education in Africa, including the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge initiative and its partnership in the Platform for Education Exchange and Reforms (PEERS) project covering EAC and the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS).
While sharing his remarks, the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, represented by Naila Butt noted that Africa must face the challenge of investing in its future and preparing its population for a dynamic world.
“My fellow Africans, friends, and partners, we stand at a critical juncture in our history. The world is undergoing a rapid technological, social, and economic transformation, and it is our responsibility to ensure that our education systems keep pace with these changes. We must empower our citizens, especially young people, to become agents of positive change. We must equip them with the knowledge, skills, innovation, and creativity required to nurture African core values necessary to drive in the 21st century and promote sustainable development at all levels to achieve the Africa we want”.
He also urged for continued collaboration among countries and the regional economic communities in keeping with the desires and mandates of the African Union Heads of State and Government.
This inaugural East Africa Community education conference attracted participants from the East African region and beyond. East African countries represented at the conference included South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the host, Tanzania.
The four-day education conference is the first of its kind within the East African region. Nine sub-themes allowed for structured conversations across the different aspects of education. The conference facilitated progressive dialogues on the best pathways towards achieving quality education systems in the East African region. It also established a regional network committed to multi-sectoral partnerships for education in the EAC region.
ADEA supported the conference and leveraged the presence of stakeholders to deepen engagements with partners, thereby fostering new relations, and entrenching its role as a forum for policy dialogue in education in Africa. For instance, we worked closely with the German development agency, GIZ, in the EAC region, to hold a session on regional strategies on youth employability and best practices in vocationalizing secondary education. We also collaborated with PAL Network, UNICEF, and AfCEN to evaluate frameworks for foundational learning accountability and early childhood education in the region.
