Snapshot: African Education Indaba 2025

Bridging the Attainment Gap: Transforming Education in Africa for the 21st Century

The African Education Indaba 2025, held from March 31 to April 2 in Limbe, Cameroon, marked a pivotal moment in reimagining the future of education across Africa. Organized by eBASE Africa, the inaugural Indaba brought together educators, researchers, policymakers, funders, and students from over 15 countries to confront the continent’s most urgent education challenges.

Rooted in the belief that bold, collaborative action is essential, the Indaba went beyond conversations. It sparked partnerships, inspired localized innovation, and launched a new movement toward evidence-informed and inclusive reform.

 
Why the Indaba?

Sub-Saharan Africa faces an education crisis of historic proportions:

• 98 million children are out of school
• 86% of ten-year-olds cannot read with understanding
• Inequities in access, quality, and opportunity continue to grow

In this context, the Indaba provided a catalyst for transformation, offering a space for co-creation, knowledge exchange, and strategic alliance-building.

 
Themes Explored

Participants engaged in dynamic sessions around:

• The Science of Teaching
• Digital and AI Tools in Education
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)
• Knowledge Mobilization for Impact
• Ethics in Research and Practice
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Communicating Research Evidence
• Teacher Professional Development
   

Who Was There?

Over 150 delegates representing 15 countries — including Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa — gathered in Limbe.

Participants included representatives from:

Government Ministries: MINEDUB, MINESEC, MINPROFF, MINAS
Universities: University of Bamenda, University of Yaoundé I, University of Dschang
Local Organizations: Visionary Theatre Troupe, AMEF, Students Mag, eBASE Africa
Global Partners: Zizi Afrique, Education.org, ESSA, PACE, LARTES-IFAN, AEYL
 

Key Takeaways

• Collaboration is Key. Co-designing solutions with communities and governments is essential.
• Ethics Must Evolve. Context-sensitive norms should guide research in Africa.
• Data Should Empower. Local, aligned, and usable data is critical for inclusive policy.
• Tech is a Tool. Digital solutions must be relevant, equitable, and locally driven.
• Youth Are Ready. Africa’s young professionals are prepared to lead, just give them the mic.
• Storytelling is Strategy. Approaches like Tori Dey bring research to life.
• FLN is Foundational. Literacy and numeracy must be prioritized.
• Equity Must Be Intentional. From menstrual health to disability inclusion, targeted strategies are non-negotiable.

 
From Dialogue to Declaration

The Indaba concluded with the adoption of the Limbe Declaration, a living commitment to advancing evidence-based, inclusive, and context-responsive education reform across Africa. This declaration builds on Agenda 2063, SDG4, and continental education frameworks. It offers a roadmap for collective progress.