STORY: AU unveils roadmap dedicated to advancing quality education in Africa
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 15, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 17, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:53
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of press briefing at headquarters of African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa
2. various of education in Africa
2. SOUNDBITE (English): MOHAMMED BELHOCINE, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation

STORYLINE:

The African Union (AU) has unveiled a roadmap dedicated to advancing quality education in Africa, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Mohammed Belhocine has said.

SOUNDBITE (English): MOHAMMED BELHOCINE, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation
"We have a school age population in Africa of half a billion, 500 million, and out of that half a billion, almost 100 million are not attending school. I am talking about people aged between 5 and 19, meaning the period of schooling in primary and secondary schooling. This is very concerning."
   
The roadmap, which was presented at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU, has won the acceptance of member states, Belhocine told reporters Thursday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.   

"The priority areas, among others, focus on advancing the teaching profession, foundational literacy, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics education," Belhocine said, noting that member states may choose two or three of them to try to reinvigorate their education systems.
   
According to the commissioner, the roadmap advises African countries to "decolonize the teaching of foreign history and literature" but focus on teaching African history and literature.
   
The commissioner said the roadmap stresses the need to create a favorable environment for children to come to school through the provision of meal and health package services at schools.
   
The roadmap also gives attention to create African professionals who are fit for purpose and build a resilient education system in Africa, said the AU official.
   
The AU Executive Council meeting, comprising foreign ministers from AU member states, was held Wednesday and Thursday under the AU's theme of the year for 2024: "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa."
   
The two-day meeting will be followed by the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, which is slated to be held on Feb. 17-18. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)