By Johnathan Paoli
National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has called for the ending of conflict, violence and instability on the continent as key to developing and furthering education of African children on the continent.
“Our success in educating Africans fit for the 21st century is also dependent on our success in silencing guns in order to ensure peace and stability, for there can be no proper education in volatile and war environments,” she said.
Didiza was speaking at the Conference of Speakers of African National and Regional Parliaments, under the theme, “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education system for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa” held at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand on Wednesday.
She said the continent required the building of a resilient education system for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa.
Didiza said that while peace has been restored throughout Africa, pockets of terrorism and threats to peace haunted certain regions.
She said the need for investment in education wasunquestionable and that weak economic and financial standing should not be the yardstick which determinedwhether children should have access to quality education or not.
The speaker praised the recent national and provincial elections in South Africa as evidence of the importance of embracing democratic processes in furthering education.
She expressed her hope that South Africa’s sister countries would follow suit.
“Democracy remains the viable system of governance that can help us valorise our natural resources and build the resilience we need for prosperous economies on the continent,” Didiza said.
In closing, the speaker referenced the recent events in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and reiterated the call to support the people of Palestine in self-determination and the attainment of freedom against oppression.
“The attainment of democracy in South Africa against the barbaric apartheid system is living proof that no challenge can withstand the will and might of the united global community,” Didiza said.
The three-day conference will seek durable solutions to the fragile peace and security situation on the continent as well as food and energy insecurity exacerbated by the climate crisis.
INSIDE EDUCATION
