Bukola Olatunji
6 May 2008
Maputo — Post Primary education in Africa should focus on the development of vocational and technical skills so that African youths can be employable and contribute to the development of their societies.
President of the Republic of Mozambique, Mr. Armando Emilio Guebuza, who gave the advice at the opening of the Eighth Biennial of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo stressed the need to further develop science and technology on the continent to a level where ADEA can provide a forum of its exchange with the rest of the world.
No fewer than 600 participants, including about 50 Ministers and Junior Ministers of Education across Africa are attending the conference, which theme is, 'Beyond Primary Education, Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities'.
Justifying the choice of the theme, Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura said Sub-Saharan Africa had witnessed the most rapid increase of all regions in terms of primary school enrolment. "Between 1999 and 2005, the number of children entering primary school rose by 36 percent - some 29 million."
However, dropout rates are still higher in Africa than anywhere else in the world, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 45 percent of the 72 million children out of school - nearly 33 million, 54 per cent of whom are girls.
Matsuura pointed out that new challenges are emerging that threaten hard won gains. "The growing food crisis casts a dark cloud over the significant human development accomplishments in recent accomplishments in recent years. Some school feeding programmes stand the risk of being cut back, imperiling the poorest children's ability to learn."
He therefore advised leaders that "as we turn to address the grwoign demand for higher levels of education, let us not forget our responsibility towards towards those children, young persons and adults who still do not enjoy access to basic learning opportunities. The provision of quality basic education for all must be our top priority wherever it is lacking.
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