African union says 26 African countries unlikely to achieve education target

Updated on: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Dr Beatrice Khamati, the head of the Education pision of the African Union (AU) Commission says more than 26 African countries are unlikey to achieve the Education for All (EFA) target by 2015.

Speaking at a two-day regional workshop on Effective Monitoring and Advocacy for the Rights to Education in Africa organized by the Commission here yesterday, she said the current situation in many African countries made it difficult for the continent to achieve sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets.

"Inadequate political will, financing and deficiencies in coordination, monitoring and advocacy are some of the challenges that have contributed to this negative status quo," Khamati said.

There was a need for stakeholders to take stock and come up with strategies which would enhance strong partnerships as well as effective monitoring and advocacy at national, regional and international level in order to reverse the situation and accelerate progress towards 2015, she added.

Jennifer Chiwela, the Chairperson of Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA), said stakeholders were alarmed that 11 years after the launch of EFA Goals in Dakar and mid-way to the MDG deadline, about 30 million children had remained out of school in Africa.

"The majority of those excluded are women, girls and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities," said Chiwale, who urged stakeholders to generate debate on policy options for Africa to address its education gaps and to excel in socio-economic development within the concept of an African Renaissance.

She said the workshop would define ways of strengthening mutual partnerships among African governments, civil society, regional and economic bodies and the international community in ensuring citizens' right to quality education in Africa.

African union says 26 African countries unlikely to achieve education target

More Education news