Bettereducationholdsthekeytogreaterproductivityandhigherincome.IthasthereforebecomeasignificanttooltorealizeAfricanUnion(AU)Agenda2063andharnessthedemographicdividend.
Africa鈥檚populationwillaccountfor3.2billionoutoftheprojected4-billionincreaseintheglobalpopulationbytheendofthiscenturyanditsworking-agepopulationwillincreaseby2.1billionoverthesametimeframe.
Thisprojectedincreaseintheworking-agepopulationgivesAfricaagrowthpotentialandawindowofopportunityforthe鈥淎fricaWeWant,鈥漚sstatedinoneoftheprioritiesofourAgenda2063,whichseeksaprosperousAfrica,basedonwell-educatedcitizensandaskillrevolutionreinforcedbyscience,technologyandinnovationandexpandingaccesstoqualityhealthcareservices,particularlyforwomenandgirls.
Onthisfront,theAfricanUnionCommission(AUC),throughtheeducationdivision,hasbeenimplementingdifferentinitiativesandprogramstoguideitsmemberstatesonhowtoensurethattherightsupportivepoliciesandstrategiesarewelldevelopedforfosteringqualityeducationsoastoharnessthedemographicdividend.
Thisissobecausewebelievethatimprovementineducationalattainmentisthekeytoamplifyingproductivityandincomegrowthandthatasignificantshareofthedemographicdividendisalsoaneducationdividend.
Inthisrespect,a10-yearContinentalEducationStrategyforAfrica(CESA)2016-25hasbeenendorsedandestablishedinlinewiththeaspirationsandexpectationsofAfricancitizensandAgenda2063.
Thefollowingaresomeoftheeducationdivision鈥檚implementationandadvocacyprograms:
鈥hePanAfricanUniversity,anAUflagship,isdesignedtofosteringexcellenceinAfricanhighereducationandresearch,andservingasadriverofinnovation,relevanceandcompetitivenessforthecontinent鈥檚educationsector.OntheAUharmonizationstrategyforhighereducation,theAUCisworkingjointlywiththeUNESCOtofacilitatetheratificationandimplementationoftheConventionontheRecognitionofStudies,Certificates,Diplomas,DegreesandOtherAcademicQualificationsinHigherEducationinAfricanStates,whilegivingdifferentscholarshipsfordisadvantagedAfricanstudentswithexcellentacademicbackground.[Theconvention,signedinAddisAbaba,mainlyaimsatstrengtheningandpromotinginterregionalandinternationalcooperationonrecognitionofqualifications.]
鈥ntheteachers鈥檇evelopmentandqualityeducationfront,werecognizethatinordertoachieveAgenda2063andCESA2016-25goals,thereisaneedtoimprovethestatusandworkingconditionsofteachersandthereisalottobedoneineducation,especiallythecontinuationontheAUTeachers鈥橰oadmapinlinewithCESA2016-25.
鈥ewanttoachievethecentralroleinensuringthatquality,responsiveandinclusiveeducationdevelopmentinAfricameetstheindividualandcollectivegoalsforthedevelopmentofhumanresourcesandintellectualcapacityinAfrica;thePanAfricanInstituteofEducationforDevelopment,aspecializedinstitutionoftheAU,ischargedwiththeresponsibilitytofunctionasAfrica鈥檚educationobservatorywiththekeyareaofimplementingthecontinentaleducationmanagementinformationsystemforAfrica.
鈥npositioningeducationatthecenterofthedevelopmentwedesireandtransmitintooursociety,itisimportanttonotethatof75percentofgirlsstartingschool,only8percentcompletetheireducationontheAfricancontinent.Thiscallsforincreasedstrategiesforaccesstoearlychildhoodeducationanddevelopmentofmechanismsforretentionofyoungwomenineducationsystems.ThiscurrentlyisattheforefrontoftheactivitiesimplementedbytheAU-InternationalCenterforGirls鈥檃ndWomen鈥檚EducationinAfrica.
鈥hefirsteditionoftheAfricaDayofSchoolFeedingwaslaunchedonMarch1underthethemeHomeGrownSchoolFeeding:aConduitforAfrica鈥檚SustainableDevelopment.TheAfricaDayofSchoolFeedingwasinstitutedbytheassemblyofheadsofstateandgovernmentduringthe26thAUSummit,inrecognitionoftheimmensevalueofhome-grownschoolmealstoenhanceretentionandperformanceofchildreninschool,andinboostingincomegenerationandentrepreneurshipinlocalcommunities.This,therefore,showcaseshowtheeducationdivisionisinvolvedinempoweringAfricanswitheducationandtrainingskillsforharnessingthedividend.
(ThisisaregularcommentarycolumnbytheAUonvarioustopicalissues.TheviewsexpressedarethoseoftheAU)