In a pivotal moment for Africa’s future, distinguished leaders gathered on the sidelines of the African Union Mid-Year Summit have issued an urgent call to tackle the continent’s escalating learning crisis. Hosted by Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Founder and CEO of Human Capital Africa (HCA), the assembly featured esteemed former African heads of state, including Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Joyce Banda (Malawi), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia).
The stark reality facing Africa’s youth is alarming: nine out of ten children are unable to read with comprehension or perform basic mathematics by the age of ten. This education deficit poses a critical barrier to achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous and innovative Africa driven by its own talent. The leaders’ call underscores the urgency of addressing foundational learning as essential for the continent’s socio-economic and security objectives.
Opening the discussion, President Nana Akufo-Addo emphasised the severity of the crisis. “We are being asked what to do at the continental level regarding foundational learning. We must recognise that we are in a learning crisis. Leadership needs to understand that we are in a severe existential crisis! We won’t be able to work on development issues unless we work on foundational learning,” he asserted. Akufo-Addo called for a shift in perspective from short-term solutions to long-term investments, advocating for a decade of comprehensive educational reform and development. His vision for transformative, enduring educational policies will be a cornerstone of the upcoming African Union Mid-Year Summit.
Despite challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, African nations have shown resilience in closing education funding gaps and revitalising their education systems. The call to action emphasises learning from one another and optimising scalable, African-led programmes within existing budget constraints. Sustainable and meaningful improvements in Africa’s education systems are imperative to ensure a thriving future for the continent.
Responding to President Akufo-Addo’s remarks, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo underscored the inseparability of true development from education. “Education is not merely important—it is a matter of life and death. Without it, we fail to fulfil our potential. While a decade of focus on education is commendable, I advocate for lifelong learning—from cradle to grave,” Obasanjo declared. His sentiments were echoed by Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who proposed that every president become a Chief Learning Officer, championing foundational learning as the cornerstone of education. “These basic skills are the bedrock upon which all future development rests,” she emphasised.
The collective endorsement from former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Jakaya Kikwete, Joyce Banda, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf amplified the call made by Human Capital Africa and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) at the February AU Summit. Their communique urged African heads of government to take decisive steps, including:
- Declaring the current learning crisis unacceptable.
- Acknowledging the link between Agenda 2063’s objectives and learning outcomes.
- Committing to all children reading with comprehension and doing basic math by age ten by 2030.
- Implementing cost-effective, evidence-based solutions like structured pedagogy and teaching at the right level.
- Expanding the use of tools to measure learning outcomes early and consistently.
- Building a continental mechanism for accountability and peer review.
- Facilitating constructive peer learning and knowledge sharing.
A Unified Vision for the Future
Dr. Ezekwesili expressed gratitude for the commitment of the eminent group of leaders, urging the African Union to heed their voices. “We are privileged to have this esteemed group of current and former African leaders coming together in recognition of the fierce urgency we must inject into the fight to end the learning crisis in Africa,” she stated. The collective dedication to building robust educational foundations for future generations is both inspiring and essential for ensuring that the impact of current leaders endures.
As Africa stands on the brink of transformative change, the call for urgent action on foundational learning is well understood by members of the Ministerial Coalition on Foundational Learning. With high-level political leadership and innovative African solutions already in place, the continent has the knowledge and capability to solve this crisis. Now, it is time to ensure that every African child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
