Accra: Mr Evariste Sindayigaya, Sub-Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Plan International, has urged African governments to significantly boost investments in the education sector. His call to action highlights the necessity of allocating approximately 10 to 20 percent of national budgets and four to six percent of GDP to education. The proposed financial commitment aims to enhance individual wellbeing and foster an inclusive, resilient society.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Sindayigaya emphasized that such investments would be transformative, particularly for the younger generation. He highlighted the potential benefits, including empowering children, especially girls, with vital skills and knowledge necessary for life, work, and survival. These remarks were made during the opening of the ADEA (The Association for the Development of Education in Africa) TRIENNALE 2025 conference held in partnership with Ghana's Ministry of Education in Accra. The conference, themed 'Strengthening the Resilience of Africa's Educational Systems,' seeks to address learning poverty and develop a well-educated, skilled workforce by 2035.
Plan International, as Mr Sindayigaya outlined, is committed to advancing children's rights and promoting gender equality. The organization prioritizes creating safe, inclusive environments where girls can learn and thrive free from aggression. By partnering with institutions, Plan International aims to ensure that girls can lead, make decisions, and actively participate both locally and nationally.
Underscoring the importance of education, Mr Sindayigaya noted that Plan International's core projects focus on enrolling out-of-school children, enabling them to 'learn, lead, decide, and thrive.' He identified challenges within Africa's educational sector, such as a lack of coordination among stakeholders and resource duplication, stressing the need for strategic partnerships and effective resource allocation to maximize impact.
Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, highlighted his office's collaboration with the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP). Despite these efforts, there remains a significant number of out-of-school children, estimated at over one million in Ghana alone. Mr Tchona expressed the need for scaling existing initiatives in the face of shrinking funding and called for increased collaboration with the private sector.
He appealed to the donor community to perceive education funding not as charity but as a strategic investment crucial for global security. Mr Tchona also pointed out that over 100 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa are out of school, with a disproportionate impact on females. He urged governments, civil society, and donors to enhance investment levels in education to create a more gender-responsive and inclusive system.
