Stakeholders in Africa’s education sector have urged greater collaboration among curriculum developers across the continent to deliver a more qualitative, relevant and globally responsive education system.
The call was made during the 5th African Curriculum Association (ACA) Conference, which began on Monday in Abuja, with the theme: “Transforming Curriculum and Teacher Development in Africa for Inclusivity, Resilience, and Lifelong Learning through 21st Century Competences.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that delegates emphasised the urgent need for African education to adapt to both domestic realities and global demands.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Salisu Shehu, said education systems were undergoing unprecedented change.
“This change is driven by dynamic social, technological and cultural shifts that make it mandatory for us to evolve our curriculum development process. A much more important issue is that education must be adapted to the mentality, aptitudes, occupations and traditions of the various peoples,” he said.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who was represented by the Minister of State, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the conference as timely.
“Curriculum is an essential foundation for quality education and national achievement. I am confident that this conference will engender quality presentations, focused discussions and critical analysis that are evidence-based and result-oriented,” he said.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), Sheikh Mussallam, underscored the need to rethink education strategies.
“Curriculum that is focused on problem-solving is bound to enter crisis in the age of AI. I propose that we move our education systems from problem-solving to problem-posing. We should impart to our youth the ability not just to answer questions but to ask the right ones,” he noted.
NAN reports that the conference was organised by the African Curriculum Association in collaboration with NERDC and other international partners.