"Every man who knows how to read has it in his power
to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life
full, significant and interesting" - Aldous Huxley
The 21st century has shown that without
education, a man is incomplete as Education is the bedrock of every
society. Whether formal or informal
education, the society thrives on learning and dissemination of
information. Moreso, Education is widely
accepted as a leading instrument for fostering economic growth and development
in a globalised world. For Africa, where growth is essential, and if the
continent is to climb out of poverty, education is particularly important.
In 2004, it was estimated that 38 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa had never been to school. As a result they have been deprived of experiences integral to
full physical, social and emotional development. (http://www.gaps.org.au/activities/36-education/71-education_2state). According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation facts
and figures on African Youth (2012), Africa is the only continent with a
significantly growing youth population. In less than three generations, 41% of
the world’s youth will be African. By 2035, Africa’s labour force will be
larger than China’s. On the continent, too many African young people are
neither employed, nor studying, nor looking for a job. Moreso, the report
states that literacy is growing but Africa still lags behind the rest of the
world. Current African educational
levels are lower than China’s and India’s and Only 2/3 of students progress
from primary to secondary education in Africa while the Youth unemployment
increases with education level in Africa.
In Nigeria, Nearly
9 million primary school-age children are out of school in Nigeria (Mo Ibrahim
facts and figures 2012). The class strength in a typical public primary and
secondary institution is over 60 with inadequate infrastructure to meet the
needs of the students. In addition, stiffing government policies affect the
growth of education. In Benin, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Madagascar,
governments supervise many aspects of universities’ operations. In Benin and
Tanzania, the government appoints senior university managers. In Cameroon, the
Minister of Education retains supervisory authority over universities. The
Ministry of Education in Madagascar appoints all faculty members, sets
salaries, and determines working conditions, which results in close links
between faculty members and the political system.
Furthermore, the poor quality of education in most
African country is generating poverty and inequality and undermining the
opportunity we have to build as a continent. There is a wide gap between the
rich who can afford quality education at a high cost to the poor children who
have to struggle to attend and gain from the public educational institutions
that are of questionable standard.
Education in most developing African nations still falls short of
standard quality compared to that of developed nations. Tertiary educations in
most African nations are for those who can afford them. Eventually if the
student is able to graduate, he is faced with the problem of getting a job in
an already congested labour market. Recently in Nigeria, over 200,000 youth
completed the mandatory Nation Youth Service and are thrown into the labour
market where there certificate holds no value.
To improve education in Africa, I believe that policy
makers should embark on educational paradigm shift that will equip the youth
with entrepreneurial skills and critical thinking to be self-reliant. More so,
Education policies that will favour the general mass should be created and
implemented, and ensure that every child/youth has opportunity to get a formal
education. Needed and suitable Infrastructures should be put in place and made
available to students.
As various African leaders, intellectuals and youth
gather at the 2012 Mo Ibrahim Forum in Dakar to discuss on African Youth-
Fulfilling the potential, I hope that our policy makers will take decisions
that will be of great benefit to the youth and Africa as a continent.
In Conclusion, “The doors we open and close each day
decide the lives we live”. ~Flora Whittemore
