The ECOWAS Parliament has called for a comprehensive reform of the educational system across West Africa to ensure that curricula align with the socio-economic needs of the region and prepare young people for emerging opportunities.
The call was made at a joint committee delocalised meeting on Education, Science and Culture; Health; and Telecommunications and Information Technology held in Lomé, Togo.
The meeting was themed “Strengthening Curriculum Alignment with Socio-Economic Needs of the ECOWAS Region.”
President of the National Assembly of Togo, Komi Selom Klassou, warned that failure to align education with labour market realities would continue to create a disconnect capable of undermining productivity, competitiveness and stability in the sub-region.
Klassou, who was represented by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, described education as the bedrock of national prosperity and the foundation for shaping the future of societies.
“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, the theme of the meeting highlights the urgent need for West African countries to rethink their educational systems in response to technological developments, the mismatch between skills and job opportunities, and emerging sectors within the region’s economies.
Also education should no longer be viewed merely as a means of transmitting knowledge but as a strategic tool for achieving intellectual, economic and social sovereignty.
Klassou said governments must anticipate future skills requirements, promote innovation and strengthen technical and vocational education to address youth unemployment and transform the region’s large youth population into a driver of economic growth.
He reminded participants that the move toward harmonising education systems in West Africa is backed by Protocol A/P3/1/03 adopted in 2003 by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, which provides for the harmonisation of regional education policies and the promotion of quality and relevant education.
Highlighting reforms in Togo, Klassou said the administration of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé has introduced measures aimed at modernising the country’s education system and strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector.
He noted that the reforms promote entrepreneurship education and continuous training to better prepare students for the demands of the labour market.
“These efforts aim to evaluate the relevance of study programmes from primary to higher education while strengthening technical and vocational education to improve employability and encourage self-employment,” he said.
Klassou also noted that the participation of committees on health and telecommunications reflects the interconnection between education, healthcare and technology in addressing development challenges in the region.
He said training health professionals must reflect the specific needs of the region, while information technology should be leveraged to expand access to both education and healthcare, especially in remote communities.
Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture and member of Ghana’s delegation, Kweku George Hagan, also emphasised the critical role of education in achieving sustainable development.
Hagan said the transformative power of education depends not only on access but also on how relevant learning outcomes are to economic realities.
He warned that the region’s education systems are struggling to keep pace with rapid population growth, technological disruptions, youth unemployment and climate challenges.
The widening gap between training and employment opportunities has created a paradox of unfilled job vacancies alongside a shortage of skilled workers.
Hagan called for a shift from a certificate-focused education system to a competency-based framework capable of producing adaptable and competitive workers.
He also urged policymakers to integrate digital literacy, green skills and entrepreneurial thinking at all levels of education, strengthen technical and vocational education and training, and institutionalise continuous curriculum reviews in collaboration with the private sector.
Leader of the Togolese delegation to the regional parliament, Soklingbé Senou, said the challenges facing education in the sub-region require urgent attention.
Senou noted that rapid global changes have made it necessary for educational systems to keep pace with labour market demands.
He warned that the education sector must go beyond simply producing certificates and instead focus on equipping students with practical skills that respond to real economic needs.
