Education is a fundamental right that every child should have access to, regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic background. However, in many parts of Africa, this basic right is still a major challenge. From lack of infrastructure to limited resources, there are various obstacles that hinder the provision of quality education in the continent.
One of the main challenges facing education in Africa is the lack of access to schools. Many children in rural areas have to walk long distances to reach the nearest school, which can be a significant barrier to their education. Additionally, the cost of education, including school fees and uniforms can also prevent children from attending school. Without access to education, these children are at a higher risk of being trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Another challenge in Africa is the quality of education being provided. Many schools lack qualified teachers, textbooks, and basic educational resources, leading to a poor learning environment and outcomes for students. As a result, many children graduate from school without the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce.
Addressing education challenges in Africa is a critical endeavor that requires a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and the factors that contribute to these obstacles. With disparities in access to quality education, socio-economic barriers, and a need for innovative solutions, the education sector in Africa faces multifaceted challenges.
Recently, the 37th African Union (AU) Summit discussed on the continental-wide measures towards taking steps to address education challenges in Africa.
Accordingly, the achievement of Aspiration 1 of Agenda 2063 for “A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development” requires that Africa makes significant investments in education with the aim of developing human and social capital through an education and skills revolution emphasizing innovation, science, and technology.
In its press release, the AU stated that even with a substantial increase in the number of African children with access to basic education, large number school-aged children still remain out of school. This reality calls for concern.
The AU, through its Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), is vying to expand access not just to quality education, but also to education that is relevant to the needs of the continent given that the continent’s population is rapidly increasing. The CESA aims to reorient Africa’s education and training systems to meet the knowledge, competencies, skills, innovation, and creativity required to nurture African core values and promote sustainable development at the national, sub-regional and continental levels.
In his opening remarks Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) also reminded that Africa is endowed with myriads of resources and a large youth population that embody the great potential of the continent. In that regard, Africans should not be seeking aid but exploit their own natural resources to ensure self-sufficiency.
“Ethiopia has been taking extensive strides in the education sector to achieve development goals. Advancements in the education sector will enable African youth to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit, elevate problem solving skills, and determination to overcome challenges on Africa’s development path.”
Moreover, the African Union Theme of the Year 2024 on Education will help amplify the collective mobilization of Member States, stakeholders, partner organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), and non- governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with education and the African citizens in general, to massively contribute to the development and enhancement of quality education for all.
Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) of the African Union Prof. Mohammed Belhocine on his part said that comprehensive, quality and inclusive education is a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for fostering development, peace and progress.
It is worth noting that, an estimated 244 million children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 worldwide are out of school, with 129 million of these children being girls. Girls’ education is about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in or around school and be given the opportunity to complete all levels of education. It is about acquiring knowledge and skills to be fit for the labor market; gain socio-emotional life skills necessary to adapt to a changing world; make decisions about their own lives; and contribute to their communities and the world.
Although there is some progress made by member States in girls’ access to schooling, girls still face unique and multiple barriers to education; mostly caused by economic inequalities, poverty, harmful traditional norms and practices such as child marriages, poor infrastructure, violence, food insecurity, armed conflicts, displacements, and the climate and humanitarian crises. These challenges disrupt educational trajectories, robbing girls of their right to learn.
Non-access to education has a huge socio-economic cost to the continent. A recent World Bank study estimates that the “limited educational opportunities for girls, and barriers to completing 12 years of education, cost countries between 15 trillion USD and 30 trillion USD in lost lifetime productivity and earnings.”
Therefore, to address the issue of access to education in Africa, it is important to invest in building more schools in rural areas and providing scholarships to children from low-income families. By increasing the number of schools and making education more affordable, it is possible to ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education in the continent, experts recommended.
In sum, addressing the education challenges in Africa requires a multi-faceted approach that focuses on improving access, quality, and gender equality in the sector. By investing in these areas, we can ensure that all children in Africa have the opportunity to receive a quality education and build a better future for themselves and their communities. In addition, the ongoing moves by the AU are a promising effort towards advancing the education sector in all African countries.
The 2023 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report notes that more than one in four (29 percent) school-age children were still out of school on the continent, a worrying statistic revealing that the out-of-school population in sub-Saharan Africa increased by 12 million over the 2015-2021 periods. Quality is also a concern, even for those who are in school: 9 out of 10 children in sub-Saharan Africa cannot read and understand simple text by the age of 10.
The 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union made this year’s AU theme on education, “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”.
The theme aims to catalyze follow-up to the commitments of the 2022 United Nations Education Transformation Summit (TES), mobilizing governments and development partners to rethink and transform education to contribute to the vision of “Education for All”, set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want”.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2024
