KIGALI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Africa's education ministers and development partners have reiterated their commitment to ending "learning poverty" and doubling efforts in funding foundational learning as a three-day education forum concluded Wednesday in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
"Learning poverty" refers to the inability of children to meet basic literacy and numeracy milestones.
The forum, which gathered about 500 delegates, including ministers of education, development partners, and experts from across sub-Saharan Africa, called for urgent action to address the challenges slowing foundational learning to improve the quality of education on the continent.
"We have shared invaluable insights, strategies, and visions to tackle foundational learning challenges across Africa. I call upon my fellow ministers to join me in ending learning poverty in the coming decade," Rwandan Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana said in his closing remarks. "Let us make this our shared priority, working together and learning from one another to achieve this goal."
"Together, we are laying the foundation for a future in which every African child has access to quality education," he said.
Victoria Kwakwa, vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa of the World Bank, urged governments to invest in foundational learning, starting with universalizing early childhood education, focusing on proficiency in literacy and numeracy, and keeping vulnerable populations, in particular adolescent girls, in school.
Noting that Africa's working-age population is expected to double by 2050, Kwakwa said stronger foundational learning is indispensable for a more prosperous and inclusive future.
"The World Bank is committed to partnering with governments and stakeholders to drive swift and impactful change," she said.
According to the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, learning poverty rates in sub-Saharan Africa stand at around 90 percent.
Data from the World Bank indicate that addressing the challenge could unlock an estimated 6.5 trillion U.S. dollars in economic opportunities.
Failure to act, however, could result in economic losses of up to 17 trillion dollars across the continent.
The World Bank estimates a 97 billion dollar funding gap in education for sub-Saharan Africa.
Officials have called for committed and collaborative action among African nations and development partners to improve the situation.
Etleva Kadilli, regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa of the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF, said ensuring prosperity across Africa requires greater political commitments and investment that are turned into concrete action.
"Governments must reach every child and keep them in school, assess learning outcomes regularly, support teachers to deliver the basics, and develop children's mental health and well-being," she said. "Only then will children attain the reading, math, and socio-emotional skills necessary for them to progress to higher forms of education and realize their further potential." ■
