The 37th Summit of the African Union (AU), held on February 10th and 11th, 2024, witnessed crucial discussions about the future of education in Africa. Under the theme "Educating an Africa Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa," African leaders called for a comprehensive reform of the continent's education systems.
"In Africa, we must build new education systems tailored to the 21st century”
In this regard, participants unanimously underscored the need to emphasize technology in education. Prince Moses Ofori-Atta, Communication Director of the African Network for Prosperity, emphasized that Africa must build new education systems tailored to the 21st century, capable of leveraging technology to offer modern and relevant learning opportunities.
According to Ofori-Atta, despite Africa's abundance of natural resources and young population, the continent lags significantly in technological progress. This gap compromises its competitiveness on the global stage and hinders its economic and social development. To overcome this obstacle, it is imperative to completely rethink African education systems to align them with the needs and challenges of the 21st century.
"A robust, technology-focused education system is essential to prepare young Africans for future jobs and to enhance the continent's competitiveness on the international stage”
UNDP Assistant Secretary-General Ahunna Eziakonwa also emphasized the importance of education in Africa's development. She stressed that a robust, technology-focused education system is essential to prepare young Africans for future jobs and to enhance the continent's competitiveness on the international stage.
By focusing on technology and innovation, African leaders have demonstrated their commitment to transforming the continent's education system to meet the requirements of an increasingly digitized and interconnected world.
The African Union (AU) has launched an ambitious program aimed at boosting technological development in Africa. It includes infrastructure improvement, technology-focused education programs, research, support for startups, and the creation of favorable policies. The goal is to promote economic growth, job creation, and improved quality of life through technological innovation.
