YAOUNDE, Cameroon, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Education Ministers have the very important responsibility to ensure quality education of the future leaders of the continent so that Africa can rise and occupy a dynamic force in the world arena” . This statement was made by Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST) of the AU, during the opening onFriday 25 April 2014 of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Conference of Ministers of Education of the African Union (COMEDAF VI) holding in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, under the theme: “Educating for African Renaissance towards 2063”.
The COMEDAF VI was officially opened by the Mr. Philemon Yang, Prime Ministers of the Republic of Cameroun, in the presence of Mme Youssouf Hadidja Alim, Minister of Basic Education of Cameroon and Members of the Cameroon Government; Diplomatic Corps; the student of the Pan-African University; partners and invited guests.
After the welcome remarks of the Mayor of the Yaoundé City, Prime Minister Yang underscored the importance of education in the socio-economic and political development of the continent. He reiterated his country’s engagement to support the African Union efforts in promoting education as a panafrican value for the 2063 Agenda. Prime Minister Yang emphasized the importance of training and skills development for effective employment of the youth; focusing on concrete proposals and recommendations to improve the continental policy in training and education. He further encouraged the participants to produce relevant and useful recommendations in order to make appropriate contributions to the state of Education in Africa.
Commissioner Ikounga welcomed the participants and expressed appreciations to the host government for their cordial reception and hospitality. The Commissioner gave special mention to the Pan African University (PAU) as an example of success in Higher Education and the acceleration of quality education in Africa. He said that bridging gaps and creating synergies in education policies in Africa is an essential part of educating for African renaissance towards 2063 Agenda. (See complete speech of the HRST Commissioner on the AU website: www.au.int ).
Representing the outgoing bureau of COMEDAF, the Permanent Secretary of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recalled that the Ministers will review progress made on the implementation of the Plan of Action of the 2nd Decade of Education for Africa since the last COMEDAF V held in Abuja in 2012. He pointed out the necessity to provide continual support to teacher development to contribute to sustainable growth and development in Africa. He underlined Africa’s need for teachers to train students to become globally competitive.
The Director of HRST, Dr. Abdul-Hakim Elwaer, announced the participation of the Pan African University students at the COMEDAF VI official opening, saying that they were a true example of the vision and very ambitious project of the AU with respect to education. Dr. Hakim introduced a poem and song on the education vision for Africa 2063 presented by the PAU students.
An exhibition by education partners and African Union officials of the department of HRST crowned the opening ceremony of COMEDAF VI.
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