Education Minister to lead African Union’s education reforms team

Minister for Education and Bosomtwe Member of Parliament, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has been selected to lead a team of education experts on the continent to assist the Africa Union’s (AU) with its education reforms initiative.

Speaking at a press briefing, Chairman of the African Union Educational Committee and former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo said Adutwum was chosen for his experience and understanding of global education systems.

The Education Minister leading the team of experts, Obasanjo said could help the team come out with a blueprint for the continent to get the best education that would help fight poverty and promote the development of the countries.

Dr Adutwum was appointed to lead the education experts at a Presidential Media Briefing conference on Foundational Learning organised by Human Capital Africa (HCA) in Accra on theme ”Prioritising Foundational Literacy and Numeracy to achieve African Union Agenda 2063 goals.”

Some of the dignitaries who graced the conference were President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, Jakaya Mrisho Kiawete, former President of Tanzania and Chairperson

Also in attendance were Global Partnership for Education, and Board of Directors, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, former President of Liberia, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder and CEO of HCA, among others.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of AU Educational Committee describing education as life and death emphasised the need for the leadership of African countries to attend to education as a life-long issue and not short-term.

Olusegun Obasanjo indicated that countries that did not take the issue of education seriously would find it difficult to transform their economies as well as fight poverty.

The former President praised Ghana for the various interventions and initiatives put in place by the Ministry of Education led by Dr Adutwum which were gradually shaping its economy and improving educational outcomes.

Mr Obasanjo challenged African countries to take keen interest in the welfare of teachers by paying them well and creating an enabling environment for them to operate effectively towards empowering their students with the requisite knowledge that would transform the continent.

On his part the Minister in Charge of Ghana’s Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum said there was the need for the African continent to have an education strategic plan to improve education on the continent.

The Education Minister explained that such a strategic plan would help countries develop specific approaches to tackle their education needs and challenges.

Honourable Yaw Adutwum said when all African countries came together to discuss their specific needs, it would be easy to group them for strategic planning and appropriate solutions prescribed for them.