Draft:Transforming Education in Africa

Transforming Education in Africa is a collaborative policy seeking to promote quality education in Africa. The Program which was championed by UNICEF and the African Union Commission was to safeguard and improve upon the past success achieved by African leaders and stakeholders of African education. The program presented a comprehensive report on the state of education in Africa.

The program is to address the educational challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most children in Africa are still out school and some who are in the school are lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills. The report was an appeal to all African government to renew their commitments to enhance the governance and efficiency of education services through innovative means. The report predate the COVID-19 pandemic yet with it suggests innovates ways of addressing education issues through distance education to children and the use of high tech but low cost solutions to ensure safe continuity of learning while schools are closed.

Why the need to transform Africa's education

Africa's young and fast growing population

Africa is the continent with the youngest population worldwide. The report indicate that by the middle of the century, Africa will have a population of a billion children and adolescents under 18 years of age. The projections presents Africa the opportune time to leverage its human capital by investing in education and training of children and young people. The high proportion of young and active population which will not last for ever is giving African countries opportunity to attain economic productivity through education.

Education is a critical means by which Africa's human capital can be developed. Improving the education will help break poverty and aid socio-economic development. Investment in education could lead to employable and qualified workforce.

Maintain the substantial progress in getting children to school

Beginning the 21st century, Africa countries had put in efforts to improve access to education, and some level of achievements were obtained. Within this period, the proportion of primary school age who were not enrolled in school was reduced to half. In the same period Africa recorded more girls in school and more students in the tertiary education. Between the 2000 to 2022, school completion rates increased at all levels. It moved from 52% to 69% in primary education, 35% to 50% in lower secondary education and from 23% to 33% in upper secondary education.

Poor learning outcomes

In Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 87% are learning poor, unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10. This translate into the general literacy rate of the continent. The continent still have a large majority of illiterates. The reason is a combined effect of a large proportion of out-of-school children along with poor quality learning outcomes for those in school.