In a world where information has become the new currency, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) have signed an agreement to strengthen inclusive STEAM Higher Education in Africa. An agreement which is aimed at promoting suitable policies in the education sector that support Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
The deal was then made concrete with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the margins of the African Union (AU) Specialized Technician Committee on Education, Science and Technology held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The need for stronger education models that would gear African youth towards pursuing careers in the science and art fields is imperative and the fact that their skills are required to stimulate Africa’s growing industrial and manufacturing base cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, this development constitutes a framework for building up the collaboration between the two organizations, to better fulfill their mission at the regional and country levels. The AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, name education, particularly in STEAM, as a key catalyst for sustainable development. Essentially, numerous opportunities provided by expertise in the STEAM fields will help to boost Africa’s long-term socio-economic transformation.
AIMS and ADEA will increase support within African countries in areas that include policy development to favor the integration of STEAM into skills development, teacher training and learning programs and public engagement. It will also affect research and innovation in an effort to transform the continent through applied skills relevant to its labour market and research-developmental needs.
“Education-training, research and innovation are key factors that will propel Africa’s transformation. The collaboration between AIMS and ADEA will address policy issues with a focus on the Ministries of Education, Gender and others, to promote the integration of STEAM into the respective policy initiatives,” said Ms. Oley Dibba-Wadda, Executive Secretary of ADEA. “We are especially determined to create an enabling environment that will encourage the engagement of women and girls.”
President and CEO of AIMS, Thierry Zomahoun, stated that working with ADEA will surely lead to a climate for increased investment in science and innovation in Africa.”We expect strong development outcomes that will impact Higher Education in Africa while contributing tangibly to SDGs.” He also added that AIMS will be joining the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), Africa’s global forum for science, as a full member of the organization.
According to the data presented in 2012 by the Africa Learning Barometer, which analyses the state of education and learning in sub-Saharan Africa, half of sub-Saharan Africa’s total primary school population – 61 million children – will reach adolescence without the basic skills needed to lead successful and productive lives.
The NEF, an AIMS initiative in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung is positioned to go a long way in ensuring that principal thinkers in science, policy, industry and civil society in Africa are able to leverage science to solve global challenges.
