Amid continuing calls to increase primary school enrolment in Africa, a new report urges greater emphasis on the quality of what students learn. The Africa Progress Panel, a policy think tank chaired by Kofi Annan, a former UN secretary-general, noted in September that \u201cmany of the children in school are receiving an education of such abysmal quality that they are learning very little.\u201d Its report, entitled\u00a0A Twin Education Crisis Is Holding Back Africa<\/i>, says that Africa\u2019s children are leaving school \u201clacking basic literacy and numeracy\u201d and without \u201c21st century skills.\u201d\u00a0 (Photo: <\/i>For Africa to thrive in the 21st century, its students must be much better equipped with the necessary skills and capabilities.\u00a0 Photo: Panos \/ Giacomo Pirozzi)<\/i><\/p>\n
The report argues that while African governments have rightly stressed the importance of macroeconomic growth, such growth can only have a lasting impact if the continent\u2019s people have the necessary skills and capabilities.<\/p>\n
The report recommends a three-step solution. First, African countries must strive to meet the Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education by 2015. Second, they must pay more attention to the quality of education. And third, they should ensure that poverty, living in rural or conflict regions, or being female do not impede children\u2019s education.<\/p>\n
According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the percentage of African children in primary school increased from 60 per cent in 2000 to 76 per cent in 2009, while the number of children out of school dropped from 42 million to 30 million. The panel report highlights progress in a number of countries. Tanzania had more than 3 million out-of-school children in 2000, but is currently \u201cwithin touching distance of universal primary education.\u201d It adds: \u201cFrom Burkina Faso to Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal and Zambia, one country after another has made a breakthrough in enrolment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Africa as a whole may not meet the 2015 MDG education target.\u00a0\u201cIf the trend from 2005 to 2009\u00a0is continued, there will still be\u00a017 million [children] out-of-school\u00a0in 2025,\u201d maintains the report.<\/p>\n
Mr. Annan said, \u201cGiven the critical place of education in poverty\u00a0reduction and job creation, we urge governments to deliver on the commitment to provide education for all by 2015 and to strengthen their focus on learning achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Kingsley Ighobor<\/i><\/p>\n