By Bahle Gama
Education, long recognized as a cornerstone of societal and economic progress, is faltering in Africa, threatening the successful implementation of Agenda 2063—the African Union’s (AU) strategic framework for socio-economic transformation.
Despite its ambitious vision of “The Africa We Want,” educational challenges such as inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, low teaching quality, and unequal access across regions have slowed the continent’s progress toward achieving its developmental goals.
Agenda 2063: A Vision for Africa’s Future
Launched in 2015, Agenda 2063 is a 50-year blueprint designed to transform Africa into a global powerhouse.
It reflects a pan-African commitment to unity, self-determination, and sustainable progress. Seven aspirations underpin the framework, including fostering inclusive growth, sustainable development, and a skilled workforce to drive economic transformation. Education, as a critical pillar, plays an essential role in realizing these aspirations.
The framework also complements the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
Both frameworks recognize that a well-educated population is indispensable for reducing poverty, fostering innovation, and ensuring long-term economic growth.
However, recent data and trends indicate that Africa is not keeping pace with the educational targets outlined in Agenda 2063, presenting a significant obstacle to the continent’s aspirations.
Education Decline: A Persistent Challenge
According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), education in Africa has experienced an average decline since Agenda 2063’s implementation.
The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) reveals a -0.3-point decline in the education subcategory since 2014, signalling a concerning trend.
Half of the 54 African nations have shown negative trajectories in education, with the average continental score falling to 44.5 in 2017.
A key indicator of concern is education quality, which evaluates the effectiveness of basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions in meeting the needs of a competitive economy.
Among African nations, Togo is the only country to improve in this category since 2014. South Sudan is the sole country among the bottom 10 performers to show any improvement in overall education scores.
Factors Behind the Decline
Several underlying issues contribute to Africa’s educational decline, including:
- Inadequate Funding: Many governments allocate insufficient resources to education, leaving schools underfunded and poorly equipped.
- Infrastructure Deficits: Lack of proper classrooms, learning materials, and technology hampers the learning experience.
- Teacher Shortages and Training Gaps: A shortage of qualified educators and inadequate teacher training programs undermine education quality.
- Inequitable Access: Rural and marginalized communities face significant barriers to accessing quality education, perpetuating inequality.
- Irrelevance to Job Markets: Education systems often fail to align with the skills required by modern economies, creating a mismatch between graduates and job opportunities.
The Broader Impact on Human Development
Education is a key component of human development, which encompasses poverty alleviation, healthcare, and social welfare. While Africa’s human development score has shown modest improvement—rising by +0.8 points on average since 2014—this progress is largely offset by stagnation in education.
For instance, although access to education has expanded, as evidenced by higher primary school completion rates and increased secondary school enrolment, the quality of education remains insufficient to meet the continent’s developmental needs.
Indicators measuring secondary and tertiary enrolment are among the most improved in the IIAG, but this progress is overshadowed by declining outcomes in education quality and relevance.
Promising Trends Amid Challenges
Despite the challenges, some positive trends offer hope. Africa has seen an increase in the teacher-to-pupil ratio in primary schools, with the average score for this indicator reaching 71.2 out of 100 in 2017. Additionally, policies aimed at improving enrolment rates have succeeded in extending access to education, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
To capitalize on these gains, experts emphasize the need to:
- Improve education quality to match job market demands.
- Invest in research and development to foster innovation.
- Bridge the gap between education supply and the needs of competitive economies.
Addressing the Demographic Challenge
Africa’s rapidly growing population presents both an opportunity and a challenge. With the continent’s majority age group under 15, education systems must expand and adapt to meet the needs of a burgeoning youth population. Failure to do so risks exacerbating unemployment, poverty, and social instability.
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Agenda 2063 recognizes the demographic dividend as a potential driver of economic growth. To harness this potential, African governments must prioritize policies that equip young people with relevant skills and knowledge for productive employment.
Monitoring and Implementation of Agenda 2063
Agenda 2063’s implementation involves collaboration between AU member states, regional economic communities (RECs), and civil society. The framework includes seven aspirations, 20 goals, 13 fast-track projects, 39 priority areas, and 255 targets.
At the national level, governments are responsible for incorporating Agenda 2063 into their strategic plans, programs, and budgets. Designated ministries act as focal points for implementation and awareness-raising. Annual consultations, mid-term reviews, and final evaluations ensure accountability and track progress.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) supports the AU in producing comprehensive reports on the framework’s progress. However, inconsistent reporting and insufficient alignment with national priorities hinder effective monitoring and evaluation.
Lessons from Past Initiatives
Agenda 2063 builds on previous development plans, such as the Lagos Plan of Action (1980) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD, 2001). These initiatives underscore the importance of aligning education policies with broader socio-economic objectives.
The framework also integrates global trends and development scenarios, ensuring relevance in a rapidly changing world. However, success depends on sustained political will, resource mobilization, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Recommendations for Reversing the Decline
To accelerate progress toward Agenda 2063’s education goals, African governments and stakeholders must:
- Increase Education Budgets: Allocate at least 20% of national budgets to education, as recommended by the AU and UNESCO.
- Strengthen Teacher Training: Invest in professional development programs to enhance teaching quality.
- Enhance Infrastructure: Build and upgrade schools, particularly in underserved areas.
- Foster Public-Private Partnerships: Engage private sector actors to support education initiatives through funding, technology, and expertise.
- Prioritize Equity: Implement policies to ensure equal access to education for girls, rural populations, and marginalized groups.
- Align Education with Job Markets: Revise curricula to include technical and vocational training that meets labour market demands.
A Call to Action
As Africa approaches the halfway mark of Agenda 2063’s First Ten-Year Implementation Plan, the urgency to address educational challenges cannot be overstated.
Education is not just a pillar of development—it is the foundation upon which the continent’s aspirations for unity, prosperity, and global influence rest.
By tackling the root causes of its educational decline, Africa can unlock the potential of its youth, driving innovation, economic growth, and social progress.
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The vision of “The Africa We Want” depends on collective action, sustained investment, and unwavering commitment to education as a transformative force.
The decline in Africa’s education sector poses a significant threat to the successful implementation of Agenda 2063. However, the framework itself provides a roadmap for overcoming these challenges.
With strategic investments, policy reforms, and inclusive collaboration, Africa can turn the tide, ensuring that its education systems become the cornerstone of a brighter, more prosperous future.
In the words of the African Union, the journey toward Agenda 2063 is a marathon, not a sprint. As stakeholders recommit to the vision of a united and thriving continent, education must remain at the forefront of their efforts, shaping “The Africa We Want” for generations to come.
