AU Emphasizes Need for Education System Reforms as Key to Addressing Africa’s Multifaceted Challenges

Addis Ababa, October 1, 2025 (ENA)— African Union Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025-2034) which marks a renewed continental commitment to accelerate inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all was launched today in Addis Ababa.

The Pan African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED) 2025, which has been designed to address the pressing issues in teacher education across Africa, has convened in Addis Ababa.

Other strategic frameworks were also launched, prioritizing systemic reform, teacher professionalism, foundational learning, digital and green skills, as well as STI-driven education.

The Conference will provide a platform for stakeholders across Africa to address the challenges with the theme–“Advancing Strategies for Teacher Training, Recognition, and Professional Development”.

Opening the conference, African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona emphasized the need for education system reforms in Africa to solve the continent's challenges in various spheres.

He noted that Africa's future will be shaped by the quality of teachers, stressing the need for advancing technology.

For the AU Commissioner, translating policies into action is essential, as education is the base for Africa's inclusive growth. 

Ethiopia's State Minister of Education Ayelech Eshete for her part stressed the significance of education for the development of Africa, as Ethiopia is advancing endeavors in the sector over the past seven years.

Stating the pivotal role of collaboration across the convenient to achieve all the goals in the sector, she affirmed Ethiopia's commitment for the implementations of initiatives designed to advance the education sector. 

During the occasion, EU Ambassador to the African Union Javier Niño Pérez said for European Union, education is one of the key pillars of investment in Africa.

He reaffirmed the commitment of EU to further strengthening the collaboration in education sector in the continent. 

The conference coincided with the celebration of the African Union Continental Teachers Awards 2025 and the launch of the African Union Continental Teacher Community of Practice (CoP) Platform.

In addition, it will commemorate World Teachers Day 2025, further enhancing the visibility and importance of the teaching profession on the continent.

The conference aims not only to celebrate teachers but also to engage various stakeholders, from policymakers to educators, to discuss strategies, innovations, challenges in teacher education in Africa, and the Launch of the African Union Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025-2034).

The launch of the AU Decade of Education marks a renewed continental commitment to accelerate inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all, aligned with Agenda 2063 and the SDGs, it was learnt.

This transformative Decade integrates the strategic implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 26–35), the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET-34), and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-34), it was leaned.

The 2025 Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education (PACTED), under the theme “Advancing Strategies for Teacher Training, Recognition, and Professional Development”, serves as a catalytic platform for launching the Decade, with teachers at the heart of Africa’s education transformation agenda.