{"id":52204,"date":"2024-12-11T10:17:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T10:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/president-kagame-advocates-for-youth-centered-education-reforms-at-au-forum\/"},"modified":"2024-12-12T20:54:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T20:54:50","slug":"president-kagame-advocates-for-youth-centered-education-reforms-at-au-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/president-kagame-advocates-for-youth-centered-education-reforms-at-au-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"President Kagame advocates for youth-centered education reforms at AU forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

The forum, themed \u201cEducating and Qualifying Our Youth for a Prosperous, Integrated, and Dynamic Africa,\u201d brought together African leaders to address key challenges in education and youth employment. <\/p>\n

Kagame pointed to the vast potential of Africa\u2019s growing youth population, describing it as a critical driver of economic growth. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn just a decade from now, young Africans will represent the biggest share of the global population entering the workforce,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot let this opportunity go to waste. This generation has the potential of becoming a powerful engine for growth and prosperity\u2014not just for Africa, but for the rest of the world.\u201d <\/p>\n

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The Rwandan Head of State stressed the need to equip young people with skills aligned with modern labour market demands. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we need to do is equip these young people with the skills and expertise to meet the demands of the labour market,\u201d Kagame noted, highlighting the partnership with UNICEF for digital skills and connectivity as a promising model. <\/p>\n

Kagame also emphasized the importance of increased investment in education, citing Rwanda\u2019s efforts. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn Rwanda, we have increased the share of education spending in our budget from 11% in the year 2020 to 17.7% in the year 2024,\u201d he stated. <\/p>\n

Beyond increased funding, he highlighted the importance of quality reforms, saying, \u201cThe focus should be on quality if we want to see long-term results. This means training and hiring better-qualified teachers, modernizing the curriculum, and encouraging critical thinking rather than rote memorization.\u201d <\/p>\n

He further urged African nations to take ownership of their education strategies, reducing dependence on external support. <\/p>\n

\u201cEffective partnerships should not be confused with outsourcing responsibility or leadership. It is not a question about being big or small or having sufficient resources; it is about making the right choices. This is well within Africa\u2019s means,\u201d Kagame asserted. <\/p>\n

Hosted by Mauritania\u2019s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in collaboration with the African Union and UNICEF, the forum aimed to explore sustainable solutions to reduce the number of out-of-school children, improve learning outcomes, and prepare youth to tackle Africa\u2019s challenges. <\/p>\n

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The president closed with a call to action, urging leaders to create opportunities that discourage risky migration in search of better prospects.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we speak, many young Africans are putting their lives in danger to go find better opportunities abroad. This is a sign that we need to do more to empower our youth,\u201d he remarked. <\/p>\n

\u201cAfrica is our common home, and we must ensure that every African has a future on this continent.\u201d <\/p>\n

The forum\u2019s outcomes are expected to inform policies to revamp education systems and boost youth employability, strengthening Africa\u2019s position in the global economy. <\/p>\n

Among the leaders present at the forum were President Muhammadu Ghazouani of Mauritania, who hosted the event and currently chairs the African Union; President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria; and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Ted Chaiban, Deputy Director of UNICEF were also in attendance.<\/p>\n