NAIROBI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- African ministers for education on Friday endorsed a comprehensive strategy to revitalize formal learning and skills development in line with the continent's quest to achieve the UN 2030 goals and Agenda 2063 on socioeconomic transformation.
The ministers declared support for the new pact to transform education sector in Africa through policy reforms, private sector investments, capacity building for teachers and gender parity in school enrollment at the end of a three day Pan African Conference on Education held in Nairobi.
Amina Mohamed, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Education, said at the forum's closing ceremony that African governments will dedicate greater efforts towards the realization of education for all goals.
"We agreed to support creation of resilient and responsive education systems as part of concerted efforts to rebuild our economies and improve people's livelihoods," Mohamed remarked.
Kenya's Ministry of Education in conjunction with African Union and the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized the Nairobi forum to review milestones in the attainment of universal access to formal education from primary to tertiary levels.
Mohamed said there was a consensus on the need to reform education policies in Africa, increase budgetary allocation and forge strategic partnerships to eliminate illiteracy and skills gap in the continent.
"Our declaration calls for joint action and enhanced coordination to promote life-long learning as a basis to achieve socioeconomic transformation," said Mohamed.
"The Nairobi declaration also calls for intra-African collaboration to realize our highest education aspirations," she added.
African ministers in their communique reaffirmed commitment to tackle bottlenecks to the realization of education for all goals including poverty, shortage of teachers, dilapidated learning facilities and archaic customs.
"We reaffirm our commitment to ensure access to equitable, inclusive quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all," said the ministers.
They pledged support for policies that advance early childhood education and greater enrollment of girls in secondary and tertiary institutions.
Multilateral agencies hailed the renewed commitment by African leaders and policymakers to bridge access gaps in basic education.
Getachew Engida, the UNESCO Deputy Director General, said African countries are well positioned to reap from investments in competence and skills based learning.
"Africa is on the verge of a monumental take off and should prioritize education and skills development to solve its economic, social and environmental challenges," Engida remarked.
He underscored the role of science, technology and smart innovations to catalyze Africa's transformation.