Human Capital Africa (HCA) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) marked a critical milestone last week by issuing a resounding call to action. This call celebrated the leadership demonstrated by African countries in addressing the learning crisis and exhorted all African Heads of Government at the AU Year of Education Summit to take decisive steps towards achieving foundational learning goals.
The six-part call to action outlined by HCA and ADEA is as follows:
1. Acknowledgment of an Unacceptable Learning Crisis:
The call begins with a stark acknowledgment of the learning crisis, stating that it is unacceptable that nine out of ten children in Africa cannot read with understanding and perform basic numerical tasks by age 10.
2. Collective Commitment to Foundational Learning:
There is an urgent plea for collective commitment to ensure that all children across the continent can read with comprehension and perform basic mathematics by age ten. This commitment is crucial for laying a solid foundation for future academic success.
3. Regular Assessment of Learning Outcomes:
The call emphasizes the importance of regularly measuring learning outcomes using evidence and data. This data-driven approach is essential for making informed decisions to improve outcomes in the classroom.
4. Implementation of Evidence-Based Solutions:
HCA and ADEA call for cost-effective, evidence-based solutions to accelerate learning outcomes. This includes initiatives such as TaRL (Teaching at the Right Level), structured pedagogy, ensuring adequate teacher numbers, providing teaching materials at a 1:1 ratio, and offering comprehensive teacher guides and training.
5. Optimization of Scarce Budget Resources:
The call highlights the need to recognize that existing scarce budget resources can be effectively utilized to drive improvement in foundational learning by implementing evidence-based interventions without significant additional funding commitments. This approach enables the alignment of national development priorities while delivering long-term pay-offs.
6. Accountability Mechanisms:
Lastly, HCA and ADEA emphasize the importance to leaders of holding themselves and development partners accountable for measuring learning outcomes in operations. This accountability ensures that support is focused on proven, evidence-based solutions that have a tangible impact on improving educational outcomes.
In summary, the call to action issued by Human Capital Africa and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa underscores the urgency of addressing the learning crisis in Africa. It outlines concrete steps that must be taken to achieve foundational learning goals. By rallying African Heads of Government and stakeholders around these critical initiatives, HCA and ADEA aim to drive meaningful change and unlock the full potential of Africa’s youth.
