Experts Debate Urgency of Investing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education in Africa

22 May 2015
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African Media Agency (New York)
press release

Cape Town — Alongside the World Economic Forum in Africa, a panel of experts will explore how investments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education will drive Africa's development forward and why the lack of such investment is perilous to the continent's future. Experts will debate the urgency of investing in STEM education, an area of focus on which Africa's future depends.

The MasterCard Foundation and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) will also discuss details of their new $25 million partnership to educate talented, yet economically disadvantaged, young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in Africa.

When: Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Where: The One and Only Hotel, Dock Road, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Speakers: Her Excellency Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa; Thierry Zomahoun, President and CEO of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS); Phillip Clay, former Chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and member of The MasterCard Foundation Board of Directors; and Dr. Tolu Oni, a 2015/16 Next Einstein Forum Fellow.

Why: In the last decade, Africa has experienced unprecedented economic growth and some of the continent's industries - retailing, manufacturing, banking, telecommunications, construction and private investment - are booming. But as Africa undergoes unprecedented transformation and growth, challenges such as the impacts of climate change on economic sectors like agriculture, the spread of disease and the inequitable division of wealth remain. To meet these challenges and to ensure Africa's continued growth, the continent needs well-trained engineers, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs, which makes investments in and access to quality STEM education an urgent imperative.

The discussion is open to the media and will be moderated by Alan Kasujja of the BBC World Service Newsday radio program. Spaces are limited and journalists are encouraged to register at ibourgeault-tasse@mastercardfdn.org. Journalists and the public can also follow the conversation through Twitter (#MCFScholars). Thierry Zomahoun, Phillip Clay and Dr. Tolu Oni are available for media interviews.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of the MasterCard Foundation.

For more information, please contact: Mimi Kalinda, Director of Communications, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, mkalinda@nexteinstein.org, +27 72 688 1250

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé, Communications Manager, ibourgeault-tasse@mastercardfdn.org

Source: MasterCard Foundation

Read the original article on AMA.

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