The Vision of the Future Africa: From Challenges to Action in Education

The chapter reviews African continental policy documents that set goals for Africa’s future development, and associated research. The key strategic framework is Agenda 2063. The chapter focuses on how education is viewed within this plan. Continental plans for education are analysed, discussing how Africa faces the fourth and fifth Industrial Revolutions. The chapter summarises the vision and plans, including socioeconomic development strategies, and assesses conditions for achieving future goals from the perspectives of school readiness, teachers’ competence, the quality of learning, equity, infrastructure, and finance. The educational strategies are strongly informed by human capital development perspectives, including strengthening science and mathematics subjects for the labour market and enhancing skills across various industry sectors to promote productivity and economic growth. However, consistent with wider developmental objectives, liberal humanist voices and critical theory perspectives are explicit and concrete in ensuring equal access to quality education, and eliminating gender disparities at all educational levels. The chapter argues that fundamental transformations throughout the entire educational system are necessary to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063. To make education an enabler of transformation and prosperity in Africa, changes cannot focus only on specific education levels, particular subjects, or skills production. Education must prepare all people for life and work in a changing environment.