Over 500 education leaders, including 28 ministers of education and ministerial representatives from 39 African countries, will gather in Kigali, Rwanda, from November 11–13, 2024, for the second edition of The Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2024).
Hosted by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Education, FLEX 2024 is the largest country-to-country platform for knowledge exchange dedicated to advancing foundational learning. This year’s edition will focus on efforts to scale successful education initiatives across Africa to reverse learning poverty. Learning poverty, which is the inability of children to meet basic literacy and numeracy milestones, poses a substantial threat to Africa’s future workforce.
According to Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education Rwanda, “The Foundational Learning Exchange aligns perfectly with our vision for education in Rwanda: to ensure equitable access to quality education for every child.
By bringing together representatives from across the continent, we can share knowledge, track progress on foundational learning outcomes, and foster collaborative engagement.
This event is an opportunity for Africa to unite on our goal for collective growth and to equip every child with the skills necessary to contribute to socio-economic development, in line with the Rwandan Education Sector Strategic Plan. We warmly welcome all delegates, education stakeholders, policymakers, and opinion leaders to this esteemed gathering.”
FLEX 2024 comes at a critical time as learning poverty rates in sub-Saharan Africa approach 90%, according to reports by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), and the African Union.
Studies by the World Bank highlight that addressing this challenge could unlock an estimated $6.5 trillion in economic opportunities. However, failure to act could result in economic losses of up to $17 trillion across the continent.
The World Bank estimates a $97 billion funding gap in education for sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the urgent need for committed and collaborative action among African nations and development partners.
The 2024 Foundational Learning Action Tracker reveals that while progress has been made, much more needs to be done to scale foundational learning solutions across Africa. Of the 36 countries surveyed, only one in five has made significant progress since last year.
While many nations continue to intensify efforts to keep children in school and prioritise essential literacy and numeracy skills, there is a notable gap in support for effective classroom teaching. The report highlights that fewer than 1 in 10 countries have implemented nationwide targeted instruction – one of the most cost-effective strategies to improve learning.
Over three days, FLEX 2024 will bring together policymakers, development partners, and education experts to assess progress on foundational learning commitments made at key gatherings such as the 2023 FLEX, ADEA High-Level Policy Dialogue, the ADEA Triennale, and the Africa Human Capital Summit.
The event also marks a milestone in the African Union’s Year of Education, providing an opportunity to evaluate the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2024) and other key regional education goals.
The conference will feature a range of activities, including panel discussions, roundtables, and informal dialogues aimed at sharing insights from foundational learning interventions across Africa. Participants will jointly develop strategies to meet learning goals, fostering the exchange of knowledge and experiences in addressing the learning crisis.
