Africa has made significant progress in expanding access to education over the past decades. However, the continent still faces various challenges in ensuring quality, equitable and inclusive education for all. Many African countries struggle with persisting number of out of school/training children and youths, as well as children not acquiring sufficient foundational literacy and numeracy skills upon which all future learning is built, including issues such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified teachers, limited access to digital technologies, emergencies, protracted crisis and climate change, high dropout rates, particularly among girls, crises affected children and other marginalized communities. Given these continued challenges, there is a growing recognition of the importance of improving learning and skill development for all children and young people on the continent to drive sustainable development and economic growth in Africa.
The landscape for transforming education in Africa presents both opportunities and challenges. With the rapidly evolving global economy and the emergence of new skills and competencies required for the 21st century, there is a pressing need to re-evaluate and reinvent education systems across the African continent. This transformation should be driven by a holistic approach that addresses the diverse needs of learners, leverages technological advancements, and fosters collaboration between governments, educational institutions, and stakeholders. The shift towards a more responsive, crises-resilient, innovative, and inclusive education system, prepared to cater for all children is crucial for empowering African children and youth and equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to tackle the continent's pressing challenges and seize its vast potential.
In acknowledgement of the African Union's Education as the Theme of the Year 2024, with the Theme – “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”; a Continental Conference is scheduled to be held. The Conference will gather key stakeholders across the continent to engage in transformative dialogue and action to strengthen advocacy for best practices implemented under education as the theme of the Year, through policy dialogues and best practices forums; Partnerships Development; and Public Awareness Campaign, with the Theme - "Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century”.