Inaugural ADEA Forum to help develop education for Africa

The Forum will bring together Ministers responsible for education, youth, and labour from across the African continent, academics, policy-makers, high-level representatives from development cooperation partners, the private sector, civil society, teachers and parents associations, youth organisations and the media. This key event will provide all the participants with an opportunity to reflect on, design and implement innovative models required in secondary education in Africa to better equip teachers and prepare students for the future of work. Key themes will include fostering relevant knowledge and skills, financing for equity, teacher motivation, teaching and learning, and digital secondary education for 21st century skills, and so forth.

Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of ADEA said: “We all need to look at how to move from research to implementation, shape policy change in secondary education and embed the findings and recommendations in country level priorities and practices.”

Education for the youngest continent

Over the next few decades, young Africans will play a critical role in the social and economic development of the continent. Africa is currently the 'youngest' continent in the world (with 60% of the entire continent aged below 25) and will continue to be for the next several decades. By 2100, almost half of the world’s young people will be African. The continent’s efforts to educate its youth will have vast implications for its economic development, stability and prosperity. Africa can seize the opportunity offered by the demographic shift by investing in human capital development, particularly at the secondary education level in which youth gain the skills and knowledge needed to be productive citizens.

To this end, each year ADEA will organise a High-Level Annual Policy Dialogue Forum in order to bring together key stakeholders to showcase, share and discuss comprehensive and innovative education and training models and programmes that aim at developing the leadership, skills and equipping the youth with the necessary knowledge, tools and know-how for employability or job creation.