African governments, in collaboration with international partners, must invest more in the education sector to ensure that everyone has access to quality education that incorporates the principles of sustainable development. This imperative is in line with the achievement of Aspiration 1 of Agenda 2063, namely ‘A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development’. To achieve this, African governments must focus on the development of their human and social capital, and the enhancement of skills by emphasising innovation, science and technology.
Education is one of the most powerful levers for promoting sustainable development in Africa. However, if it is to play this role to the full, far-reaching reforms are needed. These must integrate the principles of sustainable development into education systems, in order to prepare future generations to meet all the challenges facing the continent: inequality, climate change, education, preserving peace and others.
In education, higher education, technical education and vocational training, we are working to better prepare our children and young people for the challenges of the modern world and their social and professional integration. I encourage the government to continue and step up its efforts to ensure that the youth programme has an even greater impact and produces more tangible results.
Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
With this in mind, the African Union’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) aims to reorient education and training systems to meet the need for knowledge and skills. According to the United Nations, USD 183 billion is needed each year to educate African children. It is also essential for each country to develop continuing education programmes focused on sustainable development and to promote innovative teaching methods.
With the ambition of the Head of State, the government of Senegal and those involved in national education to move very quickly towards areas of progress and construction in order to meet the challenges facing schools, we must quickly find a solution to this complex issue. As for the other points relating to careers and how to enhance the status of the teaching profession, I have a consensus that will enable me to move very quickly and will also enable the State of Senegal and the government to move very, very quickly.
Moustapha Mamba GUIRASSY, Minister of Education / Senegal
The AU’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) places science, technology and innovation at the heart of the continent’s socio-economic development and growth through the education sector.
The vision is clear: to enable Côte d’Ivoire to equip itself with databases capable of generating reliable statistics that are available in real time, not only to guide strategic, relevant decision-making but also to constitute secure and credible sources of information for all stakeholder.
Anastasie Sepouk, Deputy Director of Cabinet, MENA / Côte d’Ivoire
Integrating the principles of sustainable development into education systems in Africa is not only necessary, it is urgent. These reforms will make it possible to train responsible citizens, but also to build a more sustainable future for the continent.