By Paul Mamattah

President Nana Akufo-Addo, has emphasized the need for leaders on the continent to recognize the severe existential crisis in education, saying that it is a critical factor in addressing the development challenges facing Africa.

Speaking at the sidelines of the African Union 6th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting organised by Human Capital Africa in Accra, President Akufo-Addo, noted that education represents the biggest segment of Ghana’s national budget, and has been so since he came to office seven and a half years ago.

The meeting brought together distinguished leaders, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Joyce Banda from Malawi, Jakaya Kikwete, former President from Tanzania,
and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf former President of Liberia.

Opening the discussion, President Akufo-Addo, stressed that investing in the development of human capital is the surest way to reap the dividends of substantial progress.

However, he also acknowledged that there are limitations to the resources available, and that choices have to be made between different options.

President Akufo-Addo, emphasized the need for recognition of the crisis, saying it is impossible to find a solution to a problem unless one recognizes the depth and extent of the problem.

The President also highlighted the importance of foundational learning, and the need for interventions that make sense, are doable, and have maximum impact emphasizing the need for an accountability mechanism at the continental level, as well as personal commitment and advocacy from leaders to tackle the crisis.

On his part, former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, highlighted the inseparable link between true development and education, stressing that education is a matter of life and death.

He emphasized the need for education to be a constant companion throughout one’s journey, advocating for lifelong learning from cradle to grave.

President OluṣẹgunỌbasanjọ expressed his commitment to championing the cause of addressing the critical issue of the lack of minimum proficiency among children. Recognizing this as a pressing crisis that must not be overlooked, he emphasized the importance of acknowledging the problem as the first step toward finding a solution.

He proposed a transformative idea of every President taking on the role of a Chief Learning Officer, advocating for foundational learning to be prioritized as the core of education.

The Nigerian former President pointed out that these fundamental skills are essential for laying the groundwork on which all future development endeavors depend adding that disregarding the significance of foundational learning would be akin to abandoning the goals of development that nations strive to achieve.

Former President Ọbasanjọ called for a dedicated effort not just for a year but for a decade to focus on education, the proposal underscores the urgency and necessity of investing in education as a pivotal factor in shaping sustainable development and securing a brighter future for generations to come.

The Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, extended her gratitude to a group of eminent African leaders for their focus on the learning crisis in the continent.

She urged the African Union to pay heed to their voices and take necessary steps in addressing this important issue stressing the importance of building a strong education system that can empower future generations to continue the progress made by current and past leaders.

Dr Oby Ezekwesili, who is also a former World Bank Vice-President, of the Africa Region, emphasized the need for political leadership to support evidence-based interventions that can effectively tackle the learning crisis within existing budget resources.

She expressed confidence in the ability of African countries to solve this issue and called on African leaders to take action to ensure that all children have access to quality education.

The Ministerial Coalition on Foundational Learning is actively working on developing and implementing interventions to address the learning crisis in Africa. Ezekwesili stressed the importance of high-level political support to enable these initiatives to reach all children in need adding that the commitment and dedication of African leaders to this cause is seen as a source of inspiration and hope for a brighter future for the continent.

Today, 9 out of 10 of our children cannot read with understanding, or do basic mathematics by age ten. It is a stark reality that the generational talent we need to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 is not being equipped with the early-stage skills it needs to drive innovation and own our futuregrowth and development. This education deficit is not a challenge for tomorrow. It is a fundamentalbarrier to achieving our continent’s social, economic, and security objectives and we must take ownership, act, and build scalable solutions suited to our continent, today.

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