Prioritise education â€" AU boss
Apr 02, 2006
AFRICA’S first education decade was a flop, a senior African Union (AU) official has said and implored governments and donors to allocate more resources to ensure the second decade, to be declared soon, does not face the same fate.
By John Eremu in Libreville, Gabon
AFRICA’S first education decade was a flop, a senior African Union (AU) official has said and implored governments and donors to allocate more resources to ensure the second decade, to be declared soon, does not face the same fate.
“Indeed, Africa entered the New Millennium with an education deficit at every level, formal and non-formal,†Prof. Nagia Essayed, the AU’s commissioner for human resources, science and technology said last Monday at the opening of an education conference in Libreville, Gabon.
“An evaluation of the first Decade of Education for Africa 1997 – 2006 revealed that most of the goals set in the Decade Plan of Action have not yet been achieved, in spite of valiant efforts by member states,†added Nagia who represented EU chief Alpha Omar Konare.
Nagia told the over 400 participants attending the five-day biennial meeting of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) that one of the draw backs was the many conflicts within the continent and that, contrary to expectations, the decade did not have much support from international agencies and Africa development partners.
Gabonese President Omar Bongo and his Cape Verde counterpart Pedro Pires, who officially opened the meeting, called for a concerted effort in pushing the education agenda as the only way for the socio-economic transformation of the continent whose education system is still characterised by high drop out rates.
“The theme of this conference – More and Better Education – relates to what is dear to the heart of this continent,†said Bongo, who has ruled the oil rich Central Africa country since 1967.
“You only find wealth in human beings. Africa should count first and foremost on its ability to educate and mobilise its men and women. It is they who will be called on to work for the construction and the greatness of African nations in order to ensure that tomorrow will be better than today,†added Bongo, who last year secured another seven-year term in office.
Pires told the gathering that brings together all ministers of education from Sub-Saharan Africa that countries that have recorded great successes in their development processes had all given priority to education and innovation.
Other key note speakers at the opening ceremony included ADEA president Ahlin Byll-Cataria, the chairperson ADEA caucus of ministers, Rosalie Kama Niamayoua, FAWE president Simone de Comarmond and the vice president of the African Development Bank, Zeinab El Bakri.
Ends
AFRICA’S first education decade was a flop, a senior African Union (AU) official has said and implored governments and donors to allocate more resources to ensure the second decade, to be declared soon, does not face the same fate.
“Indeed, Africa entered the New Millennium with an education deficit at every level, formal and non-formal,†Prof. Nagia Essayed, the AU’s commissioner for human resources, science and technology said last Monday at the opening of an education conference in Libreville, Gabon.
“An evaluation of the first Decade of Education for Africa 1997 – 2006 revealed that most of the goals set in the Decade Plan of Action have not yet been achieved, in spite of valiant efforts by member states,†added Nagia who represented EU chief Alpha Omar Konare.
Nagia told the over 400 participants attending the five-day biennial meeting of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) that one of the draw backs was the many conflicts within the continent and that, contrary to expectations, the decade did not have much support from international agencies and Africa development partners.
Gabonese President Omar Bongo and his Cape Verde counterpart Pedro Pires, who officially opened the meeting, called for a concerted effort in pushing the education agenda as the only way for the socio-economic transformation of the continent whose education system is still characterised by high drop out rates.
“The theme of this conference – More and Better Education – relates to what is dear to the heart of this continent,†said Bongo, who has ruled the oil rich Central Africa country since 1967.
“You only find wealth in human beings. Africa should count first and foremost on its ability to educate and mobilise its men and women. It is they who will be called on to work for the construction and the greatness of African nations in order to ensure that tomorrow will be better than today,†added Bongo, who last year secured another seven-year term in office.
Pires told the gathering that brings together all ministers of education from Sub-Saharan Africa that countries that have recorded great successes in their development processes had all given priority to education and innovation.
Other key note speakers at the opening ceremony included ADEA president Ahlin Byll-Cataria, the chairperson ADEA caucus of ministers, Rosalie Kama Niamayoua, FAWE president Simone de Comarmond and the vice president of the African Development Bank, Zeinab El Bakri.
Ends