IN a pivotal move for the future of education in Africa, 22 ministers of education and 12 heads of ministerial delegations from 34 African nations have committed to a groundbreaking initiative to eliminate learning poverty across the continent by 2035. The bold vision was endorsed at the 2024 Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2024), held in Kigali, Rwanda from November 11th to 13th.
At the summit, leaders from across Africa, in collaboration with global development partners, have unified behind the African Union’s ambitious call to declare a ‘Decade of Education’. This campaign aims to address the continent’s learning crisis and improve education outcomes for millions of African children who are currently facing significant learning poverty.
The World Bank estimates that achieving success in this initiative could unlock $6.5 trillion in economic potential for Africa by 2030. However, failure to act on this front poses severe consequences. A staggering $17 trillion in lifetime learning losses is projected for low and middle-income countries globally if critical educational reforms are not implemented. The stark contrast between potential success and failure highlights the urgency for immediate and effective action to address Africa’s educational challenges.
During her keynote address, Jeanette Kagame, First Lady of Rwanda and guest of honour at the event, highlighted the dire situation facing African children. She stressed that nine out of ten children under the age of ten across many African nations struggle with basic reading and comprehension.
‘The alarm bell is loud and clear,’ Kagame said. ‘If we fail to strengthen foundational learning and critical thinking, improve primary education completion rates, and allocate more resources to education, especially for the most vulnerable learners, the cost to Africa’s youth and their future employability will be catastrophic.’
Echoing her sentiment, the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, who also serves as the Africa Champion of Foundational Learning, urged a shift towards more strategic funding models for education. He emphasised the need for evidence-based approaches and robust accountability frameworks to ensure sustained progress in addressing foundational learning issues.
‘We need innovative models of funding and effective resource allocation,’ Hichilema said. ‘We must scale evidence-based solutions and hold ourselves accountable at national, regional, and continental levels for the success of this mission.’
The summit culminated in a historic five-point declaration that will shape Africa’s educational landscape for years to come. The key commitments outlined in the declaration include:
- Achieving zero learning poverty by 2035: Focused investment in foundational skills and systematic progress tracking to reach a continent-wide goal of eliminating learning poverty.
- Implementation of the African Union’s Decade of Education: Full endorsement and political will to support the Decade of Education, mobilising resources for educational transformation.
- Strengthening inter-country collaboration: Establishing frameworks for countries to share knowledge, best practices, and opportunities for collaborative learning.
- Scaling evidence-based interventions: Efficient allocation of resources to proven methodologies that improve learning outcomes, especially at the foundational level.
- Data and accountability systems: Implementing robust systems to track progress, assess educational quality, and ensure that initiatives are making a measurable impact across the continent.
The summit also saw the active participation of key international stakeholders, including the World Bank, ADEA, UNICEF, USAID, FCDO, Hempel Foundation, New Globe, and UNESCO. This wide-ranging collaboration signals a significant turning point in Africa’s educational journey, with governments, NGOs, and international organizations aligning their efforts to tackle the continent’s learning challenges head-on.
FLEX 2024 has laid the groundwork for what is poised to be one of Africa’s most transformative educational movements. The call for a Decade of Education and the commitment to eliminate learning poverty by 2035 underscores the continent’s determination to invest in the future of its youth.
As African nations unite to tackle their learning crisis, the vision of a prosperous, educated continent is now within reach, with the potential to drive economic growth and secure a brighter future for millions
