• AEF to host free online summit on Oct. 11, 2025
• Focus: innovation, wellbeing, and impact in African teaching
• Goal: equip teachers with skills to meet job market needs

The Africa Educational Management and Leadership Forum (AEF) announced it will host a free online summit on Oct. 11, 2025, focused on the theme "Teaching in a Changing World: Innovation, Wellbeing and Impact."

The AEF, established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to support teachers grappling with remote learning constraints, is now broadening its scope. The upcoming summit will focus on pedagogical innovation, teacher wellbeing, and measurable impact on student outcomes. Experts and practitioners are scheduled to share digital tools, methods, and strategies tailored to the realities of education in Africa.

The event aims to strengthen teaching quality by equipping educators with practical and digital skills. According to the World Bank, only 50 percent of African countries include computer science in their school curriculum, compared to 85 percent globally. This disparity highlights the urgent need to integrate digital skills early to prepare students for modern job market demands. Organizers intend to provide concrete approaches to make teaching more interactive and relevant while supporting teachers in their mission.

The challenge is significant. The African Development Bank estimates that Africa has 420 million youth aged 15 to 35. Of this demographic, one-third are unemployed, another third are engaged in vulnerable work, often in the informal sector, and only 16 percent hold stable salaried employment. The International Labour Organization (ILO) notes that despite a slight improvement in 2023, youth unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa remains high at 8.9 percent. The ILO also reports that 72 percent of young adults aged 25 to 29 hold precarious jobs.

By preparing teachers to transmit skills aligned with current economic realities, the forum intends to help bridge the gap between training and labor market needs. The initiative is part of a long-term goal to strengthen the continent's human capital and support economic growth.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou