The 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) opened Thursday in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, with a focus on education as a key driver of growth, inclusion, and improved quality of life.
ACCRA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) opened Thursday in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, with a focus on education as a key driver of growth, inclusion, and improved quality of life.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana's minister for foreign affairs and regional integration and host of the ministerial sessions, urged the prioritization of education goals as central to the development and prosperity of Africans.
Botchwey said Africa should use education as a tool to harness the collective strengths of citizens to find solutions to its challenges, as education fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity, adding that "these are the skills essential for thriving in the 21st century."
She suggested Africa should build dynamic educational systems that would lay a solid foundation for the future and ensure sustainable development and economic growth.
"In today's digital age, geographical boundaries should not constrain access to quality education. We must invest in developing inclusive and accessible digital learning platforms with access to a wide range of educational resources," Botchwey said in her opening remarks.
The minister called for inclusiveness to be at the heart of the continent's education policies and for the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education among girls as a crucial tool for achieving gender parity in society.
The four-day meeting serves as the sixth mid-year coordination meeting for regional economic communities to deliberate on pressing issues of economic integration, intra-regional trade, and operations. ■
