He actively participated in the African Youth Circle and at general sessions.
In his submissions, the young journalist made emphasis on the need for improvement in the educational sector to make it useful to employers.
“It is sad that we continue to rely on outdated educational curriculums that are not useful to the current job market,” Fonti noted, adding that there is an urgent need to review the school curriculum in his home country.
“Students continue to study only to pass examination and could hardly defend their grades when it comes to job output,” he pointed out.
According to Fonti, the current educational system in the country is best described as ‘rotten’ as evident in the alarming numbers of school dropouts, in addition to corruption in the examination system.
He further advocated for alternative means of education in Sierra Leone, which should include alternative examination bodies and exams, plus alternative means of teaching and learning.
“The traditional classroom means of learning in Sierra Leone is problematic, thus the need to support it with modern trends of learning using mass media,” he suggested, noting that alternative means of teaching and learning through radio and television is a viable option in the modern world.
This, according to him, will grant access to young people from various backgrounds to be educated even without going to the classrooms.
With regards young engagement, Fonti advocated for the IDB and other international organisations to explore the option of engaging the youth directly in matters affecting them. He expressed disappointment meant for the youth often land in the wrong hands.
“It would be more effective and beneficial if the Bank engages the youth in member countries directly to foster economic empowerment and growth,” he emphasized, while suggesting that the IDB sets up a ‘youth community’ to directly engage young people.
He further appealed for the IDB to consider micro financing and scholarships for young entrepreneurs and leadership trainings that will prepare them for the future.
The suggestions forwarded by Journalist Fonti were prominently captured in the final resolutions of the African Cycle and on the final communiqué of the summit.
The Islamic Development Bank Youth Summit was held at the Hilton Jeddah Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 15th and 16th May 2017 on the sidelines of the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Bank.
The final communiqué from the youth summit was presented to the Governors of the Bank.
