Pan-African Parliament receives Reports on Workshop on Girls’ Education and Vocational Education in Africa

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on Wednesday received reports of recent workshop, held from October 28-30, 2024, and organized by the Parliament’s Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism, and Human Resources, which focused on critical themes surrounding girls' education and vocational education in Africa. Hon. Koudio Kouakuo Bertin, Chairperson of the Committee, presented the workshop report, highlighting the urgency to advance the #AfricaEducatesHer campaign and promote vocational education across the continent. This event underscored the African Union’s (AU) 2024 theme, "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century," focusing on creating inclusive, resilient, and high-quality educational systems​.

The PAP on Wednesday, also received the report of the Committee on Health, Labour, and Social Affairs on the joint seminar on Agenda 2063: Fostering an Africa Fit for Children. The report was presented by the chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Jean Patrice Quirin, who delved into the broader implications of child protection and welfare policies within the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework. This initiative emphasized developing comprehensive legislative frameworks to support child welfare, including efforts to curb violence against women and children, promote children's rights, and eradicate harmful practices.

Key Contributions and Debates

The presentations were followed by an engaged debate among members. Hon. Esther Passaris from Kenya passionately advocated for stronger protections for young girls against defilement, citing alarming statistics from Kenya where over 300,000 girls became pregnant during the COVID-19 lockdown. Passaris attributed such issues to corruption and emphasized the need for societal attitude changes, particularly among men, to address the plight of vulnerable children. She called for deep reflection and greater accountability to prevent the plundering of resources that could otherwise be used to support social progress.

Senator Mungatana Danson also from Kenya, suggested that female leaders serve as role models for young girls, highlighting the inspiring leadership of figures like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state, and the inaugural president of the Pan-African Parliament, Dr. Gertrude Mongela. Such role models, he argued, offer hope to young girls and encourage them to aspire for leadership roles​.

Hon. Ng’wesi Kamani from Tanzania contributed by advocating for equal educational opportunities for both boys and girls. She stressed the importance of reducing gender-based educational barriers, such as the expectation for girls to engage in domestic work at the expense of their schooling. Kamani also highlighted the need for the provision of essential items, like sanitary pads, to prevent young girls from resorting to unsafe methods to acquire them.

Conclusion

The workshop and seminar underscored a shared commitment among PAP members to advance the rights of children and promote gender equity in education. The discussions brought forth important considerations for legislative reforms, the importance of role models, and the need for societal change to foster a supportive environment for Africa’s youth. Both Hon. Koudio and Hon. Quirin emphasized the responsibility of parliamentarians to champion these causes through robust policies and collaboration with AU bodies and civil society. The initiatives set forth in these sessions signify a meaningful step towards realizing an inclusive and educated Africa that respects and upholds the rights of all children.