Education in Africa: A Cause for Economic Downfall

Education in Africa: A Cause for Economic Downfall

School is undeniably stressful. Homework, tests, responsibilities - all of it is leading up to the ultimate goal of the moment: college. But often, this opportunity is taken for granted. What if school never actually taught people how to read? What if the highest education available was a meager fifth-grade level? Not only would this affect the individual, but it would drastically affect the rest of the country as well.

Of Africa’s 138 million school-aged children, 17 million of them will never go to school. Another 37 million will learn so little in school that the limited education will not provide any knowledge useful for gaining a job and an advantage (van Fleet). While the access to education has risen since 1994, the quality of schooling is still insufficient to help students achieve success (Ford). Not only is education key for individual students, but it is key for Africa to progress and develop into the twenty-first century. When one considers education, two factors are taken into account: quantity and quality.

Africa is facing a large human resource gap. In a country of one trillion people, this should not be an issue. However, the limited quantity of education opportunities have ensured that only about five percent of students manage to attend college. A majority of students never make it past elementary school, many never complete high school, and only a select few ever even dream of attending university. As a result of the lack of education, youths are endeavoring to enter the labor market early. However, the insufficient qualifications of uneducated minors lead to them making up sixty percent of the current unemployed population (Thomas).  “The education sector is not producing enough people who can be absorbed into the labour market. There is a high level of unskilled workers who can't get jobs,” deputy director general of Statistics SA, Kefiloe Masiteng told the New African (Ford).  Without higher, greater education, students cannot hope to achieve qualifications imperative for the types of unoccupied jobs that Africa requires.

Africa desperately needs credentialed, educated students. The drastic effects of the inadequate quality of education are evident in the a deficiency of entrepreneurs, medical practitioners, agriculturists, lawyers, scientists and other jobs that promote development. “If unemployment in South Africa is to be successfully reduced, back to basics education, skills development, inclusive wage setting and improved state capacity and infrastructure remain top priorities," Business Unity South Africa said (Ford). With a scarcity of innovative individuals, Africa cannot hope to grow technologically and economically. The lack of doctors means widespread sickness, the lack of entrepreneurs means a weak economy, and the lack of agriculturists means famine. For Africa to be able to produce viable job candidates, the education system must improve its quality.

African education ministers and a range of education specialists from public and private schools have been meeting to discuss the insufficient education system. Compared to the rest of the world, Africa is behind in development. “Unless African governments and the international community work together and act now to raise standards and improve learning outcomes, the potential of tens of millions of African youth will be wasted and Africa’s social and economic progress will stagnate”(van Fleet).  

Works Cited

Ford, Neil. "Missing the Point of Education." New African Nov. 2012: 58. Global Issues In

Context. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. Ford discusses the economic difficulties of Africa and how

education plays a vital role in it. Ford provides background on the vast unemployment

numbers, then analyzes the role that poor education had in the mix. The New African is a

known news source, making writer Neil Ford a reliable source. This article was a main part 

of providing background information to the article.

Thomas, Christopher. "Higher Education in Africa Time to Pull Out the Stops [column]." Africa

News Service 30 Apr. 2010. Global Issues In Context. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.URL http://find.galegroup.com/gic/infomark.do&source=gale&idigest=0f48ecee8b1fd7f446ffb51dd31f8b93&prod... Thomas focuses on the education issues currently being discussed in Africa and what needs to be done to fix them. Thomas provides background on the essential contribution education makes to Africa's economy before moving into an explanation of the ways the government could improve the situation. The Africa News Service is a reliable news source, making writer Christopher Thomas a reliable source. This article was key in providing multiple pieces of evidence.

Van Fleet, Justin W. "Africa's Education Crisis: In School But Not Learning." The Brookings

Institution. N.p., 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. Centered on the limited quality of education in Africa, van Fleet's article discusses the comparisons between educational poverty and wealth. Van Fleet provides background on the overall numbers concerning the attendance of Africa's education systems economy, then begins a comparison between the educational standpoint of the rich and poor. Brookings is a credible education source, making writer Justin van Fleet a reliable source. Because it provided background evidence, this article was a cornerstone the writing.