By Agnes Ansah
Accra, Aug. 6, GNA- The African Regional Conference on Education and Skills Development is underway in Accra with the aim to positioning Africa as an emerging leader in the future of science and technology.
Being held on the theme: “Harnessing Entrepreneurship and Innovation to Tackle Youth Unemployment”, the three- day conference will explore how African universities and technical institutions can educate a new generation of thinkers, researchers, and innovators to meet the challenges of the continent.
Addressing participants, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, said the conference was timely given the priotisation of the need to redefine education and address skill gaps for youth employment, both nationally, regionally and globally.
“From digital learning platforms to cutting-edge vocational training programmes, the integration of technology and education is the pathway to sustainable development and economic empowerment, ” he said, adding that Ghana certainly could not be left behind.
By fostering an environment where education met the evolving demands of the job market, the youth would be equipped with skills to drive a rapidly changing world, he noted.
The Minister said he was particularly excited about the choice of areas of discussion, which consisted of redefining education to address skill gaps for youth employment.
Also was the need for a broader policy framework by governments to enhance industry collaboration, employment opportunities, digital transformation in education and implementation to drive skills development.
Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, the Executive Chair, Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA), and the Chairman for the conference, called on African leaders to invest in science, technology and skills development and ensuring that all financial barriers in those fields of study were removed for every youth to benefit.
The Generation Z youths possessed bright and innovative minds and creative hands, and all they needed was a financial push from their respective governments to achieve their goals, he said.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said: “I think we need to put things in such a way that these young ones with creative ideas are supported. So what it means is that government has to invest in
them, and when you invest in them you are not throwing the money away. It will come back to you because now we have a more productive citizenship.”
Ambassador Rudo M. Chitiga, Permanent Secretary for Skills Audit and Development, Zimbabwe, said it was time Africa shifted focus on certificates to skills development to yeild the needed results.
She said skills-based education was no longer a choice but a necessity, particularly in an era of rapid technological change, climate uncertainty, complex global challenges and the need to change the fortunes of Africa from being a mere consumer to being an expert in knowledge development.
Ambassador Chitiga called on African leaders to refocus their educational policies on science, technology and skills development to ensure sustainable development.
“Zimbabwe is firmly committed to the continental vision of Africa where every learner is empowered with the relevant knowledge, skills and values to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development, innovation and entrepreneurship,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe