Continental Education Conference: Aiming for a decade of transformative action in education across Africa
The Continental Education Conference convened by African Union in collaboration with UNICEF and hosted by the Republic of Mauritania. The conference aims at advocating for, the scaling up of successful and innovative solutions towards achieving quality and equitable education, to meet the demands of the 21st century in Africa, exploring and agreeing on sustainable financing mechanisms for education in Africa, and to pave the way for a long-term vision of Education as a catalyst of Africa’s development with the proposal for the African Union to declare 2025-2034 as the “Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa.”
H.E. Mrs. Houda Babbah, Mauritania’s Minister of Education and Reform, opened the Continental Education Conference with a message reaffirming Mauritania’s commitment to advancing education as a driver of sustainable development in Africa. She highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in achieving shared goals.
H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation at the African Union Commission, presented key achievements under Agenda 2063. These include updates to education strategies in the Second Ten-Year Plan, the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25), and a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategy aligned with economic demands. He emphasized successes such as increased government prioritization of education, community investments, and youth advocacy for skill development. “This conference offers a unique opportunity to collectively shape Africa’s education future,” he remarked, urging focus on leveraging technology, strengthening financing, and fostering inclusive and resilient systems.
Ms. Nancy Chaola Mdooka, Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Education, outlined solutions for education gaps through innovative and inclusive models, while UNICEF’s Regional Director, Mr. Gilles Fagninou, stressed the need for strategic investments to address challenges and unlock education’s transformative potential.
Over the next three days, the conference will progress through high-level political dialogues, technical sessions, and ministerial panels at the Palais des Congrès in Nouakchott. These discussions will culminate in the adoption of the Nouakchott Declaration, expected to chart a concrete path forward for transforming education systems across Africa over the next decade.
