APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The African Union (AU) has unveiled a road map dedicated to advancing quality education in Africa, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Mohammed Belhocine has said.
The road map, which was presented at the 44th ordinary session of the executive council of the African Union, has won the acceptance of member states, Belhocine told reporters during the ongoing AU Summit held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.
The road map, comprising ten priority areas, aims at reinvigorating education systems among member states, he said.
“The priority areas, among others, focus on advancing teaching profession, foundational literacy and science, technology engineering and mathematics education,” Belhocine said, noting that member states may choose two or three of them to try to reinvigorate their education systems.
According to the commissioner, the road map advises African countries to ‘decolonise the teaching of foreign history and literature’ but focus on teaching African history and literature.
The commissioner said the road map stresses the need for creating a favorable environment for children to attend school through provision of a meal and health package services at schools.
The road map also gives attention to creating African professionals who are fit for purpose and building a resilient education system in Africa, said the AU official,
“The education problem in Africa is deep” said the AU commissioner, stressing that the continental body would also focus on transforming education quality through comprehensive teacher programs.
According to Belhocine, the AU will also focus on promoting digital education and expanding vocational and technical training across the continent for those children and youth who are out of schools.
“Nearly 100 million children and youth aged 5 to 19 across Africa are out of school,” Belhocine noted.
MG/as/APA