Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) Commission, His Excellency Ambassador Andrew Bangali recently paid a courtesy call on the Organisation’s Director of Human Resources, Science and Technology, Mrs. Vera Brenda Ngosi.
The meeting which took place at the AU Headquarters was necessitated by the Ambassador’s desire to follow up action on the request of His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma for an inclusion into the Agenda of the forthcoming AU Summit an item entitled: ‘1Goal: Education for All’ for discussion.
The item has already been included in the Summit’s Agenda.
With the unprecedented global attention on Africa during the World Cup, President Koroma wants African leaders to use this historic moment and the unifying power of football to ensure a legacy that will survive the final 2010 World Cup whistle.
Ambassador Bangali who also doubles as Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa gave a succinct run down on how the President places a high premium on education..
“Officials of the One Goal Campaign have made a representation to His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma,” he said, adding that the President had informed him to make a request to the AU for the proposed item to be included into the Agenda of the forthcoming AU Summit.
He spoke on the increased enrolment in primary education and stressed the need for more emphasis on secondary and tertiary education, which is the training ground for future scientists, geographers among other educationists.
He said President Koroma was very concerned about what the future holds for our children after primary school education.
Earlier the AU Director of Human Resources, Science and Technology, Mrs. Vera Brenda Ngosi described the proposed Agenda item as very exciting as discussions regarding education for all are very crucial for Africa.
She recalled that Education for All is an UNESCO led initiative but in 2006 African leaders agreed that education must be a priority for Africa, adding that cultural practice ought to also be used to promote education in the continent.
Mrs. Ngosi argued that primary education could not lay the basis of development in Africa.
“One of the problems in Africa is that education is divorced from our cultural beliefs and practices,” she observed, adding that the Second Decade of Education needs to address the development of teachers starting with primary education.
They also exchanged views on the upcoming conference of AU Ministers of Education to be held in Mombasa, Kenya from 22nd to 26th November, 2009.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Beatrice Khamati Njenga, the Commission’s Head of Education Division, Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology.
Comments