African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP) (AMAP) 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 AMAP 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:
AMAP 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, AMAP 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 African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP) 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, AMAP and ADEA aim to drive meaningful change and unlock the full potential of Africa’s youth.

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African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP) (AMAP), in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), UNICEF, and The Dangote Foundation, orchestrated a pivotal event in Addis Ababa on February 12–13, rallying African Heads of State, Education Ministers, and development partners, including African youth voices.

Addressing Africa’s educational challenges head-on, there was an emphasis on the critical need to prioritize foundational learning ahead of the African Union Year of Education.

“With nine out of ten African children unable to read with understanding and do basic math by age 10, urgency is paramount,” stressed H.E. Erastus Mwencha, AMAP Advisory Board member.

Former Minister of Finance of South Africa and AMAP Advisory Board Member TREVOR A. MANUEL underscored the imperative for action: “Heads of State must understand that they have the power to reverse this decay.”

Special guest of honor, Her Excellency President Sahle-work Zewde of Ethiopia, affirmed the commitment to education: “Heads of State and Government have prioritized education through the declaration of 2024 as the African Year of Education.”

Representatives of The AMAP/ADEA Ministerial Coalition echoed the call to ensure quality education for every child in Africa, as voiced by Hon. Min Madalitso Wirima, Minister of Education of Malawi, and Chair of the Coalition: “We stand united in our mission to ensure that every boy and every girl can read and perform mathematics.”

Furthermore, the need for better use of data was emphasized by Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili  CEO of HCA: “If there is a proper evidence-based approach, then the incremental cost of doing the right things at foundational levels will be negligible compared to the outcomes that it will achieve throughout the education system.”

The Executive Secretary of ADEA, Albert Nsengiyumva, stressed: “We have all understood the challenge we face, we must now ensure that our concerns are shared as widely as possible and that Heads of State hear our message in the context of all the challenges facing the continent.”

The event concluded with a resounding call to action released jointly by AMAP and ADEA. While it celebrated the leadership demonstrated by African countries thus far in addressing the learning crisis, the call to action outlined key priorities, including acknowledging the urgency of the crisis, committing to all children reading with comprehension and doing basic mathematics by age 10, and developing accountability mechanisms.

It emphasized the importance of regularly measuring learning outcomes, implementing cost-effective, evidence-based solutions, and holding ourselves and our development partners accountable for supporting proven interventions.

Education is the ONLY pathway to optimizing the human capital that Africa needs. The African Year of Education is not just about 2024 but about shaping the future until 2063 and beyond.

#HCAsummit4action

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Africa is experiencing a learning crisis which requires urgent response.  According to the World Bank, 9 out of 10 children in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) do not achieve basic reading and numeracy skills by the age of 10 (World Bank, 2019).

This is a shocking statistic, especially when compared to developed economies where only 1 out of 10 children do not achieve basic literacy and numeracy skills at the same age.

The World Bank predicts that because of COVID-19, learning poverty has been made worse by at least 10%.

Foundational literacy and numeracy are critical skills children need for success throughout their school careers and to participate gainfully in employment in their adult years.

In response, the Board of Advisors of African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP) (AMAP), an accountability and advocacy initiative, have issued a Call-to-Action to policymakers across the continent to take note and respond to this alarming learning crisis.

AMAP’s Board of Advisors includes stalwarts, who have been driving development in their corners of Africa, like Board Chair Dr.Joyce Banda, Trevor Manuel, Kennedy Odede, Kah Walla, Adama Gaye, Sangu Delle, N’Diaye Ramatoulaye Diallo, Erastus J.O. Mwencha and Rosa Whitaker. Together, they are committed to putting this issue on top of policymakers’ agendas.

“This is a wakeup call for Heads of States, Ministers, donors and other partners. It is time to prioritise learning for our children. If children cannot read and do basic mathematics at the age of 10, they will be deprived of the opportunity to be productive members of the workforce, society, and the global economy”.  Board Chair Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi.

The Call-to-Action invites policymakers to take five actions:

1. Recognize the challenge by reviewing the current state of foundational learning in their country
2. Prioritise the issue at all levels of government
3. Collect, report, and use data on student learning and the overall education system
4. Learn from evidence and other countries and implement what works
5. Hold themselves and others accountable by taking regular stock of progress

AMAP, spearheaded by Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, was launched last year in October 2021, alongside the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES27), in the presence of African dignitaries and education experts.

“It is our responsibility to bring Africa out of this crisis. I invite my fellow country leaders to accept our Call-to-Action and work with African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP). Together, we can embark on the journey to improve the quality of education in Sub-Saharan Africa” Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, CEO and Founder African Movement Against Poverty (AMAP).

Read full story on https://thetimes.co.ke/2022/02/06/AMAP-issues-a-call-to-action-for-response-to-africas-learning-crisis/

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