ECOWAS Parliament Calls For Urgent Overhaul Of Education System In West Africa

By Bukar BOLORI

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the educational system across the West African sub-region to better align learning with economic realities and the aspirations of its people.

The call was made at a joint committee delocalised meeting of the regional parliament held in Lomé, Togo, where lawmakers and education stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for reforming the region’s curriculum framework.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the President of the Togolese National Assembly, Komi Selom Klassou, warned that the current mismatch between educational programmes and labour market demands is undermining productivity, competitiveness, and stability across West Africa.

The meeting, which focused on the theme “Strengthening Curriculum Alignment with Socio-Economic Needs of the ECOWAS Region,” brought together members of the Parliament’s committees on Education, Science and Culture; Health; and Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Klassou, who was represented by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, described education as the bedrock of any prosperous nation and stressed the need for urgent reforms to ensure that the region’s growing youth population becomes an asset rather than a liability.

“Education is the foundation of any prosperous nation. Through it, we shape not only minds and bodies but also the future of our societies,” he said.

According to him, West Africa must rethink its educational systems in response to rapid technological changes, persistent skills gaps, and the evolving needs of emerging industries.

He noted that education should no longer be seen merely as a mechanism for transmitting knowledge but as a strategic tool for intellectual, economic, and social sovereignty.

“Without qualified human capital, our nations cannot achieve sustainable emergence,” he warned.

Klassou urged policymakers to align curricula with socio-economic realities by anticipating labour market needs, promoting innovation and adaptability, and strengthening technical and vocational education.

He said such reforms would help reduce youth unemployment while transforming the region’s demographic growth into a meaningful economic dividend.

The Togolese parliamentarian also reminded participants that the push for educational harmonisation in the sub-region has legal backing through Protocol A/P3/1/03 adopted by ECOWAS Heads of State in 2003, which provides for the harmonisation of regional education policies and promotes quality, accessible, and relevant education.

Highlighting reforms underway in Togo, he credited the country’s President, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, with driving a transformative agenda aimed at modernising the national education system and strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector.

These initiatives, he said, are designed to improve employability, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.

Klassou also stressed the importance of integrating technology into education, noting that digital tools can improve access to learning and healthcare services, especially in remote communities.

He urged West African governments to address the digital divide, strengthen cybersecurity frameworks, and expand distance learning opportunities to ensure inclusive development.

Chairman of the Parliament’s Committee on Education, Science and Culture, Kweku George Hagan of Ghana, also emphasised that education remains the most strategic instrument for sustainable development.

However, he warned that its impact depends not just on access but on relevance.

“Our labour markets are shifting faster than our curriculum,” Hagan said, adding that the widening gap between training and employment opportunities has created a paradox of unfilled vacancies alongside high youth unemployment.

He, therefore, advocated a shift from certificate-driven education to competency-based training that equips students with practical skills needed in agriculture, industry, and the digital economy.

Among the reforms proposed are the integration of digital literacy, green skills, and entrepreneurship into school curricula; the strengthening of technical and vocational education and training; and continuous curriculum review through partnerships with the private sector.

Hagan stressed that education must not merely follow economic transformation but actively drive it through coordinated engagement among ministries of education, labour, and industry, as well as private sector leaders and academic institutions.

Also speaking, leader of the Togolese delegation to the regional parliament, Soklingbé Senou, said the challenges facing education in the sub-region require urgent and deep reforms.

He warned that education must move beyond the mere production of certificates and instead focus on equipping young people with skills that match evolving job market demands.

Participants at the meeting are expected to develop strategic recommendations aimed at harmonising educational standards across West Africa while strengthening the link between education, employment, and regional economic development.