Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Bright Msaka SC, has called on African countries to translate their commitments into concrete action to improve foundational learning, saying the continent must move beyond declarations and deliver measurable results for millions of children.
Speaking on the second day of the Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX2026) summit at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Thursday, Msaka said while previous meetings had focused on understanding the learning crisis and developing strategies, FLEX2026 must focus on implementing solutions that will improve literacy and numeracy outcomes at scale.
The Minister said Africa's rapidly growing youthful population presents immense opportunities for development, but warned that these opportunities can only be realized if children acquire strong foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics.
He observed that learning poverty remains one of the continent's greatest challenges, emphasizing that the inability of many children to attain basic learning competencies reflects gaps within education systems rather than the capabilities of learners themselves.
The Minister urged African governments to increase domestic investment in foundational learning, stressing that sustainable education reforms require strong government ownership, effective use of data, system-wide alignment and financing that directly reaches classrooms.
He called on delegates to use the conference to strengthen partnerships and adopt practical solutions that will accelerate progress towards ending learning poverty across Africa by 2035.
Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Albert Nsengiyumva said the challenge of learning poverty extends beyond the education sector, warning that children who fail to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills at an early age face lifelong disadvantages that ultimately affect national economic growth
He said this is why the discussion has been elevated to include Ministers of Finance, stressing that investing in foundational learning is both an education and economic priority.
FLEX which was established in 2023 is the premier, country-to-country peer learning platform across Africa dedicated to improving early-grade reading, mathematics, and socio-psychological skills. The exchange is spearheaded by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
