Education is key to Africa's development, say experts

IRD/Calatayud

Next week, when the leaders of the eight most industrialised, or 'G8', countries hold their annual summit, Africa and its sustainable development will be high on the agenda.

In this week's issue of Nature, ten leading figures in Africa, including John Mugabe, science and technology advisor to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD); Pascoal Mocumbi, former prime minister of Mozambique; and experts on biotechnology, climate change and health from across the continent, give their opinions on what the G8 needs to focus on.

They raise a diverse list of priorities, from controlling infectious diseases, to increasing Internet access, to using biotechnology to ensure food security.

Education, and particularly support for building schools and training teachers, is mentioned by many of the contributors as central to Africa's sustainable development.

Another common thread is the need for African development programmes to be led by Africans, not by the donors.

Link to full article in Nature