Over 350 delegates, including 30 African Ministers of Education, are expected to gather in Accra for the 2025 Triennial of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), to be hosted for the first time in Ghana, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced.

The event, according to him, would also attract global stakeholders such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, UNESCO, Gates Foundation, and Mastercard Foundation, alongside researchers, policymakers, and education experts from across Africa.

“President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially open the conference,” he said.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Accra, the Minister confirmed that the high-level continental conference will take place from October 29 to 31, 2025 at the Labadi Beach Hotel.

He said this year’s event, themed: “Strengthening the Resilience of Africa’s Educational Systems: Advancing Towards Ending Learning Poverty by 2035”, would focus on foundational learning, leveraging technology, and innovation in education delivery.

“This is a significant opportunity for Ghana and Africa to share best practices, foster partnerships, and shape the future of education on the continent,” Mr Iddrisu said.

Touching on ongoing challenges with Ghana’s senior high school placement system, he acknowledged that this year’s placement cycle had been particularly difficult, with 393,000 qualified applicants vying for just 76,000 available places in Category A schools.

“To address the inequity, the Ministry plans to convert at least 10 Category B schools into Category A schools by 2026,” he said.

These upgrades will be supported by expanded infrastructure and improved teaching and learning resources.

He also noted that regions such as North East, Savannah, Oti, and Western North currently lack any Category A schools, a gap the Ministry intends to close.

Also, the Minister revealed that 6,200 teachers, who had been working for months without pay, will soon be absorbed into the public payroll.

Cabinet has approved a GH¢1.1 billion allocation to cover both the absorption and back pay for these teachers and a number of health workers.