The Sterling One Foundation has reaffirmed its dedication to investing in African foundational learning. This commitment was reiterated during the 2023 High-Level Policy Dialogue hosted by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and Zambia’s Ministry of Education.
The objective of the dialogue was to inform policy, promote peer learning, and exchange effective practices to support the upcoming African Union Year of Education in 2024.
The education crisis facing Africa’s youth has garnered significant attention due to the inefficiency of the education system, coupled with the region’s rapidly growing population. Reports indicate that only 10% of 10-year-olds in Sub-Saharan Africa possess basic reading and arithmetic skills, ranking the region lowest globally in foundational literacy and numeracy.
To address this challenge, ten African Ministers of Education and other country representatives have agreed to prioritize foundational learning and develop a standardized ‘starter pack’ model for the 2024 African Union Year of Education and beyond. This initiative aims to provide uniform resource materials to participating countries, fostering sustainable solutions while emphasizing data collection, analysis, and policy improvement in collaboration with ADEA and other key partners.
Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, commended the strategies and ideas proposed at the dialogue, highlighting their significance in reinforcing private sector and civil society contributions to educational solutions. She emphasized the importance of policies in driving sustainable development efforts and expressed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting stakeholders through grants, technical assistance, and strategic engagements.
Critical areas identified for immediate attention include structured pedagogy adoption, age-appropriate teaching methods, and the integration of technology to enhance teacher quality through training and performance monitoring. Zambia’s Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Munsaka Syakalima, stressed the pivotal role of foundational learning in Africa’s development, stating its importance in laying the groundwork for further educational quality.
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The High-Level Policy Dialogue enabled participants to review solutions and insights from various countries, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decisions and scaling effective practices. ADEA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva, emphasized the need for collective commitment to address Africa’s learning crisis, acknowledging the continent’s role in developing and implementing viable solutions.
Key speakers, including Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili and Dr. Benjamin Piper, advocated for data-driven decisions and scaling successful approaches to confront the educational challenges in Africa. Their contributions underscored the urgency and importance of collaborative efforts to revitalize the continent’s education sector.
