Sub-Saharan Africa Ministerial Conference on Education Post-2015 adopts Kigali Statement

The Ministerial Conference on Education Post-2015 for Sub-Saharan Africa took place in Kigali, Rwanda, February 9-11, 2015. The conference was organized by UNESCO, the African Union and the Ministry of Education of Rwanda

Participants included African Ministers of Education, representatives of the African Union and representatives of organizations active in promoting education in Africa including ADEA, the Regional Economic Communities, civil society organizations and cooperation development agencies. 

The Conference discussed Post 2015 priorities for education in Sub-Saharan Africa and adopted the Kigali Statement. It endorsed that the overarching goal should be “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” and called on all partners to revisit their priorities, strategies and targets within a context of new perspectives and emerging challenges. Priority areas highlighted in the statement include equitable and inclusive access for all; inclusion, equity and gender equality; teachers and teaching; educational quality and learning outcomes; science, technology and skills development; education for sustainable development (ESD) and global citizenship education (GCED); youth and adult literacy, skills and competencies for life and work; financing, governance and partnerships; education in crisis situations. 

The Kigali statement will feed into the discussions of the World Education Forum (WEF) that will take place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, May 19-22, 2015 and subsequently into those of the high-level UN Summit in New York in September 2015. The Summit will adopt a global Post 2015 agenda for education. 

ADEA actively participated in the preparations and proceedings of the meeting.  Prior to the conference, ADEA’s working groups participated in the drafting of policy notes on thematic priorities for education in Africa. In Kigali, ADEA participated in the panels on Quality and Learning and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED), presented ADEA’s own Post 2015 priorities (see summary below); moderated a session on partnerships and coordination for education in Africa; organized a training session for journalists back to back to the conference. ADEA also assisted in drafting the Kigali Statement. 

> Read Kigali Statement 

> Read Press Releases: Press Release 1  |  Press Release 2  |  Press Release 3

> Read Summary of ADEA Post 2015 Position