Africa Must Lead Digital Education and AI Says Ghana Minister

Africa Must Lead Digital Education and AI Says Ghana Minister

Africa must take the lead in shaping its digital education future. Ghana's Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, made this strong statement at the 18th Ministerial Round Table. The event carried the theme "Championing Sovereign, Innovative and United Learning Systems: Empowering Africa on Its Own Terms." Minister Iddrisu stressed that Africa should not wait for external solutions or aid. Instead, the continent must become a powerhouse in digital learning.

Ghana is already investing in key areas to achieve this goal. These include digital education, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning. The nation is also focusing on robotics and updating its school curriculum. These efforts aim to prepare students for the jobs of the future economy. Minister Iddrisu also highlighted the need for educational materials that are relevant to African contexts. Strengthening educational institutions and ensuring technology promotes equal access to quality learning are crucial. This is especially important for students in communities with fewer resources.

The discussions at the round table also focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Minister Iddrisu called for increased investment in AI literacy. He also stressed the need for ethical frameworks that reflect African values. Africa must avoid becoming merely a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere. These principles align with a broader trend in Ghana and across Africa. Nations are increasingly seeking to control their technological destiny and build independent digital economies. This effort plays a key role in Ghana's national development agenda.

Edmund Moukala, the UNESCO Representative to Ghana, also spoke at the event. He emphasized the vital role of basic literacy skills. Mr. Moukala stated that reading, writing, critical thinking, and evaluating information are fundamental. These skills are the foundation for success in the age of artificial intelligence. He described foundational literacy as the "trunk" of a tree. Digital literacy, computer literacy, and AI skills are the "branches." Strong branches need a strong trunk.

Mr. Moukala urged governments to actively shape digital learning environments. He argued that education in digital spaces is too important to be left only to private companies. UNESCO advocates for public digital learning platforms. These platforms should support teachers, protect user data, and treat education as a public benefit. While AI is changing education, education also shapes how AI is developed and used globally. The 18th Ministerial Round Table reinforced a shared goal among African education leaders. They are committed to building learning systems that are independent, creative, and cooperative. These systems will use technology responsibly to advance Africa's educational priorities.