President Tebboune Highlights Algeria’s Unwavering Commitment to Education and Youth Empowerment at the Continental Conference – Full Speech

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | December 10th, 2024 — In a address delivered at Al Mourabitoune Conference Center, Nouakchott, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s steadfast dedication to advancing education, training, and employability across Africa. Speaking at the Continental Conference on Education, Youth, and Employability, President Tebboune outlined Algeria’s pivotal role in fostering educational development and building a brighter future for the continent.

The conference, held under the theme “An Educated and Skilled Africa for the 21st Century: Establishing Strong Educational Systems for Inclusive, Quality Lifelong Learning,” brought together African leaders, ministers, experts, and international partners to address pressing educational challenges. Hosted under the auspices of Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the current Chairperson of the African Union, the event aims to bridge the gap between education and the labor market while preparing African youth for the digital era and economic transformations.

Algeria’s Pioneering Efforts

President Tebboune emphasized Algeria’s active contribution to educational progress, citing the enrollment of nearly 5,998 African students in Algerian universities and the provision of 2,000 annual scholarships for higher education and 500 vocational training scholarships for African students. Since its independence, Algeria has supported the education of approximately 65,000 young Africans in various disciplines at its universities and institutes.

Highlighting Algeria’s regional solidarity, the president noted ongoing efforts to build and rehabilitate schools across African nations, reflecting the country’s broader strategy to strengthen education systems throughout the continent. These measures, he explained, align with Algeria’s vision of fostering a well-educated, skilled generation capable of driving Africa’s socio-economic transformation.

Global and Regional Collaboration

The conference sessions explored critical issues, such as the mismatch between education and the labor market, the role of education in the digital revolution, and Africa’s response to global economic shifts. Delegates discussed innovative financing mechanisms to address challenges and ensure sustainable investments in education, aligning with international commitments such as the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and the African Union’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA).

President Tebboune’s address underscored the importance of unified African efforts in creating inclusive, high-quality educational opportunities. He called for strategic partnerships to overcome shared obstacles, promote lifelong learning, and prepare African youth to meet the demands of the 21st century.

A Continental Vision for Progress

The conference also served as a platform for evaluating progress made by African Union member states in achieving their educational goals. Emphasizing the transformative power of education, President Tebboune expressed pride in Algeria’s leadership role in this domain and reiterated the country’s readiness to collaborate with African and international partners to accelerate educational development.

Full Text of the President’s Speech

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger,

Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Chairperson of the African Union,

Esteemed Heads of State and Government,

Mr. Chairperson of the African Union Commission,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to express my immense joy at being here in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a brotherly country, and to convey my sincere gratitude to my brother, His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, for his kind invitation to participate in the works of this Continental Conference on Education, Youth, and Employability. This is an extremely important theme that I personally consider among the top priorities and continental challenges that should be at the forefront of our concerns.

I also extend my thanks to the African Union Commission for its efforts in implementing the roadmap dedicated to the 2024 theme, “Educating an Africa Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Educational Systems.”

Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You are no doubt aware that education in our continent faces, unfortunately, a difficult reality, with an increase in the number of out-of-school children, a decline in access to appropriate education, and a lack of resources for training educators. I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief overview of my country’s experience, where free and compulsory education is guaranteed by our Constitution. This experience reveals the scale of our national challenges, with nearly 12 million students enrolled in educational institutions this year, compared to just under 900,000 students in 1962. The enrollment rate for children aged 6 has increased from 43.42% in 1966 to 99.89% in 2024.

Regarding teaching staff, the number of teachers in public educational institutions exceeds 600,000, with a teacher-student ratio ranging from 19 to 28 students per teacher, whereas in 1962, the number was just under 23,000 teachers. It is also noteworthy that 75.62% of current teachers are women, all of whom are graduates of Algerian teacher training institutes.

Despite the indicators we have mentioned, which reflect the magnitude of our national challenges in the field of education, we have made sure, in our strategy aimed at promoting education and training, to integrate modern technological tools, including the progressive introduction of digital tablets in the early stages of education, and the inclusion of the English language in educational programs to align with global science and knowledge. Additionally, we have reinforced this orientation toward science and technology by creating specialized higher national schools in mathematics, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology.

Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Based on the authenticity of my country’s foreign policy, which prioritizes African solidarity, Algeria has spared no effort to contribute to the development of education, teaching, and training across our continent, welcoming students from various African brotherly countries in our universities, training institutes, and learning centers.

In this regard, it is worth mentioning, without boasting, that there are currently 5,998 African students enrolled in our universities, and Algeria annually offers 2,000 scholarships for higher education and 500 scholarships for vocational training to African students.

We are proud to say today, before this distinguished African assembly, that since Algeria’s independence, we have provided educational and training opportunities to 65,000 young African students in various fields across our institutes and universities.

Furthermore, my country is actively engaged in the construction and upgrading of schools in several African countries. It also hosts the African Union Institute of Water Sciences, Energy, and Climate Change.

All of this reflects our contribution to collective efforts aimed at promoting educational systems across our continent and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation and continental solidarity, as well as establishing communication bridges on a human level through student exchanges among African nations, in line with the vision and aspirations of the founding fathers of our African Union.

Faithful to its African identity and depth, Algeria reaffirms, on this occasion, its commitment to the principles and ideals that underpin our Union. With conviction and tireless determination, Algeria will continue to exert efforts alongside the pioneers of joint African action in favor of a united, stable, and secure Africa—an Africa that aspires to integration and complementarity, the Africa we all envision through the 2063 vision, and an Africa that is influential on the international stage.

I will conclude by renewing my gratitude to His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani for giving us the opportunity to discuss this vital issue related to education and youth, while hoping that the results of our meeting will mark the beginning of a brighter future, where African children will benefit from quality education, enabling us to take a collective step forward toward our shared aspirations for the Africa we wish to build.

Thank you for your kind attention.”