Africa’s population is young and growing fast—by 2030, 42% of the global youth will be African, and by 2050, one in five of all workers will be African. These figures paint a picture of Africa’s future, but the question remains: Will this workforce be ready to deliver what Africa – and the world – needs?
Significant progress has been made to increase access to secondary schools across Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, increased access over the past two decades has not translated into stronger learning outcomes. Of those in school, only one in ten have reached the minimum level of proficiency in basic literacy and numeracy.
Secondary education today is failing to prepare young people for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. From poor learning outcomes and outdated curricular to teacher absenteeism and unsafe learning environments – the gaps are clear.
Secondary education is a powerful lever for change. For most youth in Africa, it is the last formal stage of education before entering the labour market, starting a family, and participating in democracy. With every additional year of schooling, young people’s future earnings will increase by 18%, a percentage that is higher and will increase more over time for girls. Educating adolescents, particularly girls, enhances their agency, and reduces their dependence on others and the likelihood that they will experience violence at home.
Now more than ever, secondary schools need to deliver to ensure this young and rapidly growing population can succeed in their future. It’s time for governments and educators, funders and philanthropists to reimagine existing school systems to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse cohort of adolescents.
This blog, co-authored by PEAS Zambia Country Director, Beatrice Likando, and Chief Programme Officer, Jenny Groot, for Alliance Magazine, explores how reimagining education systems through targeted, strategic investments can be transformational – not just for African adolescents and their continent, but for the world.
Read the blog here.