NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 21 – The Bakhita Partnership for Education (BPE) has launched a new campaign dubbed ‘The 21st Century African Girl’ to mobilize African nations to increase education funding.
The campaign also seeks to make education more gender transformative and relevant to the 21st century.
The initiative, which was initiated by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, focuses on five strategic areas, including the 21st Century African Girl Initiative, Tax Exemption for Sanitary Products, and the Appeal for Government Action in Marginalized Areas and Places of Crises.
It is also urging African presidents to allocate at least 20 percent of their annual national budgets to the education sector and funding for the Bakhita Partnership Foundation to support marginalized children and enhance educational infrastructure.
The unveiling comes in the wake of the African Union decision to adopt education as the AU Theme of the Year 2024, with the rallying theme being ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century and Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa’.
“The future is female, so we need to unlock the continent’s potential by placing 21st Century Gender Transformative education by ensuring that every African learner is equipped for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century”, said Simone Yankey-Ouattara, African Union Centre for Girls and Women Education (AU CIEFFA).
“This initiative underscores a commitment to leveraging this pivotal year to advance education equity and empower girls and women across the continent to ensure that every girl receives quality education, prioritizing the most vulnerable and marginalized,” added Charles Chilufya, Chairperson of the Bakhita Partnership for Education.
