The importance of collaboration: reflections from the 2024 annual Future of Education In Africa conference

Last Week, I was privileged to attend this year’s edition of the Future of Education Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Access, Equity, and Quality in African Education”. I met legislators, policy makers, educators, youth leaders, innovators and students from selected African countries who have come together to discuss the evolving education landscape.  

For the two-day event, the key themes that resonated with me the most were the importance of youth participation in decision-making, the transformative potential of AI, the need for robust regulation of education sectors, and the critical focus on education systems solving local problems. 

IDP Foundation recently commissioned an alumni initiative aimed at empowering the beneficiaries of the IDPF Rising Schools Program to actively participate in discourse that brings visibility to youth voice and participation in decision-making processes. Therefore, I was thrilled to witness how invited personalities emphasized the fact that young people in Africa are cable of extraordinary if giving the opportunity and space to operate.  

Why Namibia was the perfect host in my estimation
Namibia, a country with literacy rate of 92% and has rich history of resilience and transformation, was a fitting location for this important dialogue. As a nation that is rebuilding its education system after years of colonization and working towards improving access to education, particularly for its marginalized communities, and the conference’s focus on closing the access gap felt especially relevant here. Additionally, I admired the blend of cultural diversity, the cleaned streets and the blend of modern architecture blended with ancient ones to create a beautiful landscape.  

Youth participation signalling a new era of decision-making
One of the highlights of the conference was the emphasis on youth participation in shaping the future of Africa.  I was struck by the passion and urgency with which young people spoke about their role in driving change. Hendrina Kudhingililwa, the president of the Tukwatha Youth Organization mentioned in her remarks that the youth should not be only observers but must be participants in shaping the future we want.  Hence the education system must prepare the youth to be able to do so and be relevant in the future economy.  She further admonished her fellow youth participating in the on-going electoral process to vote for leaders who are committed to issues of the youth and are willing to listen to them. To me, aiding youth participation is not only a logical approach but critical in building relevant education systems that are responsive to the needs and interests of the next generation. 

The role of AI in complementing existing systems to improve learning
From the insightful presentation by Vitalis Popyeni Haupindi, CEO of YYeni AI to the panel discussion after the presentation, one thing was clear, that AI could enhance teaching and learning if utilized effectively. For instance, AI holds incredible potential to personalize learning experiences and bridge access gaps for students who have traditionally been left behind due to large classroom size, lack of confidence to ask questions in class, among others.  However, amidst the revolutionary potential of AI in supporting learning, there is the need for national level regulation and strategy on how to leverage this resource and most importantly, be a contributor and not just be users. Based on these conversations, I am curious to know what African countries are doing or will do to address the issue of inclusivity and reduce digital inequality.  

Increasing education related investment and the need for regulation in the Education Sector
In my session where I presented the All-Hands-on Deck resource, as an effective tool to aid collaboration and partnership with government, it generated an active conversation on the role of both government and non-state actors in education. While others decried the current trend of reducing budgetary allocation to the education sector in some African countries, others expressed worry about how the non-state sector in some jurisdictions have been left “unattended to”. Participants shared stories of limited interest from policy makers to ensure there is sanity in the sector and most importantly ensure that all children in the non-state sector are learning and not being left behind. The key takeaway from the session is the need for government to embrace a wholistic approach to policy planning in education by acknowledging all actors and learners, Also, regulations, accountability and increased investment are essential in building strong education systems.  

Education should equip learners to solve local problems
Another critical conversation that took place on the second day of the conference was about the role of education in solving local problems. There seems to be an on-going curriculum review across the continent, largely to equip learners with skills and support critical thinking. However, some participants expressed worry about how Africa’s problems persist despite several educational reforms, increased access in higher education. Key questions that remained unanswered were: 1. How can African countries independently design their own educational pathways that equip students to create appropriate solutions to local problems? And 2. How do we ensure curriculums aligns with industry needs?  

Reliable Data and Evidence is Key in Decision Making 

The role of strong data systems in informing policy planning and decision making was highlighted throughout the conference. Key challenges such as data inconsistencies, lack of data harmonization, inability on the part of policy makers to publicly publish data among others were expressed by participants as reasons for poor planning and investment in education. Going forward, stakeholders were advised to collaborate at the national level and work with the government to address these challenges, provide funding and technical assistance where needed and work towards building trust among all interested parties.  

What I took away from the conference
My participation in this conference deepened my understanding that changes in education are quite similar across the African continent. While I acknowledge the funding limitations in addressing them, we can no longer delay but act now by leveraging the trove of knowledge, skills and competence the continent possesses. I encourage all actors to build more impactful collaborations instead of working in silos, embrace youth participation and initiate conversations that effectively harness the potential of AI in Africa’s education system.