The Continental Education Conference 2024: A Focus on Transforming African Education  

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE

Press Release No: 214/2024                                          Date: 6 December 2024
Venue: Nouakchott, Mauritania               

The Continental Education Conference 2024: A Focus on Transforming African Education

The Continental Education Conference 2024, under the theme: “Educate and skill Africa for the 21^st century,” will be held from December 9 to 11, 2024, at the Convention Center (Palais des Congrès), Nouakchott. The conference is organized by the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and hosted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Mauritania. 

The Continental Conference aims to evaluate the implementation of African Union (AU) member states’ commitments to transform education in Africa, highlight successful models and sustainable solutions, and strengthen partnerships among policymakers, researchers, educators, and civil society stakeholders. The conference will cover key areas such as curriculum reform, teacher development, responsive learning outcome assessment, promoting impactful practices at scale, emergency-and crisis resilient education systems, leveraging digital technologies for education, inclusive education and equity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and 21st-century skills, vocational and technical education, and financing and governance for educational transformation.

Key areas of focus include curriculum reform, teacher development, digital integration, inclusive education, and reaching the most marginalized, emergency-and crisis-affected children. The conference will also focus on promoting gender-responsive and inclusive education strategies, ensuring equal access and opportunities for all learners, strengthening science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education quality and participation, and enhancing vocational and technical education.

The expected outcomes include a comprehensive status of implementation of AU member states’ commitments, a compendium of good practices, strengthened partnerships among African countries, regional bodies, and global partners, and a consensus on sustainable financing strategies for education in Africa. This could include triggering a new global fund for education in Africa, effective private sector engagement, and other innovative financing mechanisms for education.

This collaborative platform will play a pivotal role in shaping policies, promoting equity, and building resilient educational systems across the continent.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division | Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: yamboue@africa-uinon.org | Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)

Ms. Hiba Mohamed | Advocacy Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: hibae@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Maqhawe Freedom Thwala | Digital Communications Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation | African Union Commission| E-mail: ThwalaM@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org  

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube