May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 1 Preparing Knowledge Workers for Africa’s Development: Articulating Upper Secondary with Higher Education Findings and Observations Kabiru Kinyanjui George Afeti

May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 2 Each country needs to take a holistic approach to student flow regulation, articulation at all levels, and allocation of resources: an approach that should go beyond equity of access to success and equity of outcomes at all levels. “It is difficult to navigate the education ship if there is no wind in the economy”: sustained high rates of economic growth are critical to increasing resources to the education sector.

May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 3 Diversified pathways to HE is key to building knowledgeable, competent, skilled, and diverse human resources that Africa needs.

May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 4 Countries should seriously explore the potential of ODL and ICT in their PPE strategies. Rethinking and strengthening of assessment mechanisms at the end of upper secondary level is critical to better articulation with HE and fair allocation of limited places in tertiary education and training. To balance quality and quantity, there is need to strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and institutions at all levels.

May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 5 Gender in education is about both boys and girls: gender sensitive policies and strategies leading to gender mainstreaming require gender budgeting. The preparation, in-service training and retention of competent and committed teachers is a major challenge that must be addressed.

May 9, 2008ADEA 2008 Biennale: Beyond Primary Education 6 Strengthening of public-private partnerships is the way forward: building an enabling environment for this to flourish is a critical challenge. The dominant financial role of the state in HE will continue to decline, while the contribution and engagement of the private sector and households will increase, but mechanisms and facilities to support the poor and the underprivileged are required.