Eight member states of the East African Community (EAC) have reaffirmed their determination to accelerate educational reforms. These reforms aim to improve youth literacy, expand professional skills, and strengthen the region's competitiveness.
This commitment was declared on Wednesday during the second EAC Regional Conference on Education, held in Nairobi. The event gathered approximately 600 participants, including ministers of education, academics, development partners, and civil society representatives.
The five-day conference, organized by the Kenyan government, the EAC, and development partners, operated under the theme 'Transforming Education in East Africa: From Commitments to Results, Developing Resilience and Systems Ready for the Future for Sustainable Development.'
Kenyan President William Ruto stated that the future prosperity of the EAC, home to about 300 million people, depends on increasing investment in lifelong learning and skills that meet labor market demands. He urged member states to increase investments in educational technologies, teacher training, and competency-based curricula to improve learning outcomes and prepare youth for changing labor market conditions.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Andrea Ariik Malueth noted that the bloc encourages member states to harmonize their educational policies and legal frameworks. The goal of this harmonization is to strengthen basic education, expand vocational training, and facilitate skills mobility across borders. He emphasized that education systems must equip young people with analytical thinking, digital literacy, adaptability, creativity, and practical problem-solving skills.
Officials noted that stronger educational systems will help address the issue of skills shortages and youth unemployment in the region while supporting sustainable economic growth and regional competitiveness.