- Africa could provide the majority of the world’s new workers within the next 30 years, so quality, equity and accessibility of education on the continent is of importance globally.
- Supporting and developing the teaching profession in Africa is the most important factor, but this must also be combined with new technology.
- More attention and investment in Africa’s education system – and international support from governments, NGOs and other organizations – will help fuel innovation and prosperity around the world.
Within a decade, one in three entrants to the global workforce will be from Africa. Over the next 30 years, the majority of the world’s new workers may well be on the continent. What they learn in the classroom and how they learn it is a vital question of our time.
But Africa’s future success in education is not yet guaranteed. Basic literacy skills have declined in four out of ten African countries over the last three decades. Even as participation grows, children still face low primary education completion rates – about 63%, compared to a worldwide average of 87%. Those rates are worse for girls. Around 50 million children remain out of school across Africa. These challenges are especially acute in sub-Saharan Africa.