President Kagame on Thursday addressed the UNESCO Global Education Meeting alongside President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Prime Minister Erna Solber of Norway, co-chairs of the SDG Advocated Group, and the Director General of the UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
In his remarks, President Kagame noted that our countries are in the midst of determining how to safely re-launch learning in the context of the COVID19 pandemic, hence ensuring the health and safety of learners is paramount.
UNESCO organised the virtual Global Education Meeting with an objective to secure commitments from leaders for the protection of education financing during the COVID-19 recovery, and produce consensus on priority actions for the next year.
Read below his speech:
• Excellencies, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana & Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, Co-Chairs of the SDG Advocates Group
• Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO
Distinguished Delegates
Good afternoon.
I thank UNESCO and the Co-Chairs of the SDG Advocates Group, for convening this important consultation.
Our countries are in the midst of determining how to safely re-launch learning in the context of the Covid pandemic, and mitigate the long-term effects on education outcomes.
The priority actions outlined by UNESCO cover the key areas requiring our urgent attention. Ensuring the health and safety of learners is paramount.
The stakes are very high for African countries, where the youth population is growing.
This means finding creative ways to not only protect education financing, but also increase it.
In Rwanda, we are counting on close collaboration between national stakeholders, including clear communication with citizens, to help us stay focused on achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals.
International cooperation with UNESCO, the African Union, and other global partners, is an important part of these efforts.
I thank you for drawing attention to the critical issue of education, as we play our part in building an education system for the future.
Thank you.