Education critical to development and poverty eradication- Experts

Education for all is vital if Malawi and some other underdeveloped African countries are to make strides in development and eradicate of acute levels of poverty educational experts have said.

Minister of Education, Fabiano:  Business as usual will not take us far
Minister of Education, Fabiano: Business as usual will not take us far

The assertion comes to light in the wake of a three day long (17-19 February, 2016) Bridge Africa Conference underway at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.

Bridge Africa is a programme initiated by the Korean Commission for UNESCO, which comprises of eight African countries with the aim of spreading hope through education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In his address during the opening of the conference on Wednesday, Malawi’s Education Minister,Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano appreciated the conference whose theme is “Sharing experiences; Paving the way forward” describing it as timely and has come at the stock-taking time of shortfalls encountered in attempting Education for All (EFA), and strategising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Said Fabiano; “SDG number four challenges the world community to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and this comes in against a backdrop of a mixed performance in attainment of EFA goals which ended in 2015.

“One lesson learnt in implementing EFA goals is that ‘business as usual’ will not take us far and we can only sustain the outcome of our efforts if our approach to the efforts is sustainable.”

He further expressed optimism that attainment of SDGs is possible if “we can move at a faster pace than EFA goals”.

He has since challenged the country delegates partaking in the conference to also tackle issues of communities’ and parents’ roles in ensuring children’s attainment of quality education.

Also present at the opening was Minister Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati, who applauded the educational approach by the Bridge Africa Programme saying it is vital to her ministry and Malawi’s development and poverty eradication.

In his remarks Secretary General for the Korean national Commission for UNESCO, Dong-Seok Min challenged that attaining success in development through education is possible sighting his country as an example.

He said; “if Korea made it, why can’t Malawi and other countries make it”?

Among the countries under the Bridge Africa Programme are Malawi, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe whose representatives were all present at the function.

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