YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, LITERACY AND NUMERACY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
COUNTRY: DRC
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Policy Brief Outline
SDG 4.6 Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
Topic Area: Youth Empowerment, Literacy and Numeracy in the 21st Century
Country: DRC
SDG 4.6 seeks to ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy and is a major pursuit in the list of SDGs. The above stated is one major goal in the sustainable development goals most prevalently in African countries, and more so in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DRC is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area and comes fourth in the list of most populated countries in Africa. Despite the seemingly high population levels, it was estimated by 2012, that around 7.3 million children were drop-outs. It was also realized that approximately 3 million people suffered internal displacement due to the tumultuous nature of the nation.
In light of such circumstances, the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Professional Education in conjunction with the Brookings Institution, set up an initiative by the name, Optimizing Assessment for All (OAA) to help integrate 21st century learning processes and skills into the school curriculum. With the implementation – even though it is slow and through hardship – of 21st century literacy skills teaching via the numerous stakeholders in the education sector in DRC, we are able to notice slight changes in the numbers of students re-joining schools and majority of youths attending programs geared towards literacy and numeracy. DRC is a very rich country in terms of mineral and agricultural resources and if the youth and children are able to master the art of exploitation and exploration of the same, the country may begin to notice a shift towards economic growth and development. In the policy brief to be discussed as appertaining to 21st century youth empowerment, literacy and numeracy in the DRC, we shall articulate the various processes previously undertaken to achieve this goal in tandem with SDG 4.6 and offer suggestions/recommendations contributing towards mitigation of this challenge facing the country.
(313 words)
Written: April 17, 2021
