Facts & figures

The challenges for development in Africa are reflected, in terms of both causes and effects, in the field of education,

• Early childhood development is, in most countries, left to private sector actors primarily working in urban areas in aid of more advantaged social groups.

• Almost 50per cent of countries may not attain the goal of universal primary education by 2015; nearly 40 million children are not going to school.

• HIV/AIDS is likely to claim the lives of 10 per cent of teachers within the coming five years, and 20 per cent of school-age children will be AIDS orphans.

• Illiteracy among individuals over the age of 15 stands at 41 per cent; gender disparity in education prevails in 75 per cent of countries.

• The gross secondary school enrolment rate exceeds 20per cent in half of the countries, yet remains below 8 per cent in 10 countries.

• Higher education and other levels and forms of education are experiencing problems with respect to access, quality and even relevance.

Related links

>> Regional overview of education in sub-Saharan Africa (EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003/04)

>> Education Statistics 2001 - Regional Report on sub-Saharan Africa

This comprehensive study of education in Africa examines the state of education in 49 countries and covers the 1998-1999 academic year, providing a snapshot of all levels of education from pre-primary to tertiary. It is published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).

>> Full Report

>> Press release