Key Recommendations For Transforming Education In Africa

UNICEF and the African Union Commission recently collaborated to create a report on “Transforming Education in Africa”. With the help of this report, the organizations wanted to contribute to the high-level policy discussions to boost education in Africa and improve the learning and teaching quality in Africa.

By 2050, Africa will be housing billions of children and adolescents that will lie under the age group of 18 years and it will comprise 40% of all the children in the global context.

The young population of Africa can prove to be a resource human base if proper opportunities are provided to realize their full potential. Keeping this in mind, eight recommendations were provided for transforming education in India. 

1. More Inclusiveness

There is a need to investigate why the dropout rate is still high in the country and the same issue needs to be reduced. Barriers faced by the students that prevent them from continuing their education, especially secondary education which is a must for applying for any Government Jobs needs to be identified and solved.

It is recommended to make secondary education compulsory. Further, the curriculum of the subjects should be designed in a manner that makes the students ready for the job market and further help them to crack Sarkari Result because not everyone can afford to take coaching for gaining the necessary skills for it. 

2. Raise The Learning Levels 

The quality of overall education should be improved. The focus of the studies should be especially high for basic reading and mathematics at an early level. The foundational learning skills should be of utmost importance to build a strong base for the students. 

3. Digital Connectivity Should Be Prioritized 

During Covid-19, the importance of digital connectivity was realized. It is recommended that the Ministries of Education develop strategic partnerships with internet providers and telecommunications to ensure that digital connectivity is ensured for the students. Educational budgets should be created in a manner that digital connectivity is ensured. 

4. Safe Environment For Students 

Owing to the pandemic, basic hygiene and sanitation guidelines should be maintained in the schools and it should become a must. To make the schools a safe environment for the students, basic wash infrastructure and good washrooms should be ensured. Further, basic hygiene tools like liquid hand wash should be made available to the students. 

5. Equip Teachers With Digital Skills 

For ensuring that the students are market-ready, the teachers should be equipped for the same. For instance, technology plays a key role in any job today and therefore, the teachers should need to have the proper digital skills so that they can be passed successfully to the students. The teachers should know how to use technology to meet the requirements of the students. 

6. Improve Efficiency Of Financial Resource

The economic impact of Covid-19 was high and therefore, chances are high that many governments will keep the spending on education a bit stagnant and will focus on other areas of the economy. Therefore, it becomes critical to use the limited financial resources available for education in the most efficient manner possible. 

7. Investment In Resilient Education Systems 

There is a need to develop more resilient education systems in Africa and it can only be done by building a robust framework. A resilient education system will further ensure that inclusiveness and quality of education are maintained.

Important parameters that need to be considered for a resilient education system include assessment, management, teaching and learning and lastly, monitoring and evaluation. 

8. Improvement In Education Data 

Progress can be made to improve the education system only when evidence-based information is available. Quality data of the same will help the policymaker and the educationalist in identifying the problematic area and further solve the problem which can result in progress in the educational system. 

In 2020, 60% of the African population belonged to the age bracket under 25 years. To make the young demographic a resourceful base, providing quality education to the children is a must.

Most of the children that dropout of school belong to the poorest family and therefore, policies should be designed in a manner that these students are able to continue pursuing their education despite their poor financial resources. Africa has made quite progress in improving the educational system but still, a lot can be done to improve the situation further.