Unlocking the potential of Africa’s most valuable resource

Africa’s greatest potential asset is its youth – the population of those younger than 25 years is set to more than double by 2050. By providing these individuals with the tools to contribute to a modern economy, the continent could see an unprecedented increase in productivity and inclusive growth. Quality education will be key to unlocking this potential.

What you will learn:

• Of all regions, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of educational exclusion. The out-of-school rate in sub-Saharan Africa is 21% for children of primary school age (around 6-11 years), 34% for adolescents of lower secondary school age (12-14 years) and 58% for adolescents of upper secondary school age (15-18 years).
• Government spending per student in Africa is the lowest across the globe: $533 for primary and $925 for secondary school in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).
• We believe that investing in primary education is a fundamental first step. Since primary schools have the highest enrolment rates, there is a small window of opportunity to provide an educational foundation and keep these children within the schooling system.