Rethinking Education for Development in Africa: The Need for the Association of Dialogue for Development on Education in Africa (ADEA) to Step Up Its Role

Abstract

: Education is unarguably the life-transforming agent for development of any society. To the extent a people is educated, to that extent is its level of development. Africa as a continent is no exception to this universal certitude. Africa, a continent duped the richest in the world’s array of mineral resources is paradoxically tagged the world’s one of most impoverished continents. Little is there to be seen as far as translating this wealth for the development and growth of the continent. Thus, while some countries in places such as Europe and Asia are adjudged as first-world countries, Africa has been tagged a third-world continent on account of its poor educational investment. This appellation reflects Africa’s underdevelopment in the eye of the world. For some reasons, methods of education as well as the sheer will to place issues concerning educational matter on the front burners by relevant stake-holders seem to be at their lowest ebb. The world is focused on result-oriented education for development and empowerment. Africa must not be left behind in the pursuit of this liberator. On this, the role of the Association of Dialogue for Development on Education in Africa (ADEA) as an organ must be stepped up to allow for a dynamic and result-oriented approach to education be evolved. Thus, if the value-chains attributable to education in the global sphere are anything to go by for Africa, a new approach is crucially expedient.