African leaders from the early independence were quick to prioritize education on their development agendas. Attaining universal primary education, they maintained, would help post independence Africa lift itself out of abject poverty.
As governments began to build schools and post teachers even to the farthest corners of the continent, with help from religious organizations and other partners, children began to fill the classrooms and basic education was under way.
Africa’s current primary school enrolment rate is above 80% on average, with the continent recording to some of the biggest increases in elementary school enrolment globally in the last few decades, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is tasked with coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. More children in Africa are going to school than ever before.
In 2017, the World Economic Forum rated Kenya’s education system as the strongest on the African continent. In 2018, the World Bank ranked Kenya the top African country for education outcomes (1st out of 43 mainland countries). In 2019, a Kenyan was named the most outstanding teacher in the world and awarded a prestigious $1 million prize.
It was initially accepted that most of Education System In African Countries and training programs suffer from low-quality teaching and learning, as well as inequalities and exclusion at all levels. Even with a substantial increase in the number of children with access to basic education, a large number still remain out of school.
In 2017 Education System In African Countries rating, the World Economic Forum rated Kenya’s education system as the strongest on the African continent.
In 2018, the World Bank ranked Kenya the top African country for education outcomes (1st out of 43 mainland countries). In 2019, a Kenyan was named the most outstanding teacher in the world and awarded a prestigious $1 million prize.
Of all regions education system in African countries, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion. Over one-fifth of children between the ages of about 6 and 11 are out of school, followed by one-third of youth between the ages of about 12 and 14. Almost 60% of youth between the ages of about 15 and 17 are not in school.
Without urgent action, the situation will likely get worse as the region faces a rising demand for education due to a still-growing school-age population.
Despite the successes and falling in education system in African countries, institutions are churning out thousands of graduates each year, but these graduates cannot find jobs because the education systems are traditionally focused on preparing graduates for white-collar jobs, with little regard to the demands of the private sector, for innovation or entrepreneurship.
Education System In African Countries
Education is the key to unlocking the golden door of freedom for all in Africa. It is the bedrock of social and economic development. Education is crucial as it is an investment in human capital. This yields us to give a tremendous details of education system in African countries below. Here’s some of them:
1. Education System In Seychelles
A small country with about 95,000 people, Seychelles holds the position for the best education system in Africa with 69.3 points. It is the only African country in the top 50 education system globally, at 43rd position ahead of Ukraine, Hungary, Russia and UAE. It holds a global ranking of 28th position on Critical thinking in teaching and 34th on Skillset of graduates. It is the first and only country in Africa that has fully achieved the “education for all” goal, set by UNESCO.
In 2016, according to UNESCO, the government spent 11.72% of total expenditure on education. Education is compulsory up to the age of 16, and free through secondary school until age 18. 98.9 percent of the population age 15 to 24 is literate.
2. Education System In Tunisia
The second best education system in Africa is found in Tunisia, which ranks 71st position on global education system with 61.4 points. It ranks 49th position for School life expectancy and 51st for Pupil-to-teacher ratio in primary education.
Since gaining independence from France in 1956, the government of Tunisia has focused on developing an education system which produces a solid human capital base that could respond to the changing needs of a developing nation. Education is the number one priority of the government, with more than 20 percent of government’s budget allocated for education. Literacy rate as at 2015 was 81%.
And the country with the best education system in Africa is
4. Education System In South Africa
Ranked at 84th position on global education system, South Africa offers the 4th best education system in Africa with a score of 58.4. It is 53rd on Mean years of schooling and 55th on Extent of staff training globally.
5. Education System In Algeria
The second North African country in this list, Algeria rank 88th position on global education system, and 5th in Africa with 57.4 points. It is also 65th position on School life expectancy. With a population of 41.3 million, the literacy rate is at 75 percent.
6. Education System In Botswana
Botswana rank 92nd position on global education system behind Iran and ahead of Brazil. It holds the 6th position in Africa with a score of 56.7. It ranks 67th on Extent of staff training and 76th on Mean years of schooling.
While some sources claim education in Botswana is free for the first 10 years, but according to Wikipedia, Secondary education in Botswana is neither free nor compulsory. Literacy rate is at 88 percent, with a population of 2.3 million.
7. Education System In Kenya
The East African country rank 95th position on global education system, ahead of India and behind Brazil, and 7th best in Africa with a score of 55.4. It is 21st on Ease of finding skilled employees and 43rd on Digital skills among population globally. Compulsory education lasts 12 years from age 6 to age 17
With a population of 49.7 million, 17.58 percent of total government expenditure in 2017 went to education, and literacy rate is at 78.7 percent according to UNESCO.
8. Education System In Cape Verde
Surprisingly, Cape Verde follows closely behind Egypt, at 98th position on global education system and number 8th in Africa, with a score of 53.3. It is 53rd on Critical thinking in teaching and 71st on Ease of finding skilled employees globally. The country has a population of over 546,000 and literacy rate is estimated at 80 percent. Primary school education in Cape Verde is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 14 years and free for children ages 6 to 12.
9. Education System In Egypt
Egypt rank 99th position on global education system, and 9th best in Africa with 52.8 points, slightly ahead of Namibia. It ranks 70th on global Digital skills among population. Compulsory education lasts 12 years from age 6 to age 17 and literacy rate is at 71% as at 2017, according to UNESCO.
10. Education System In Namibia
Namibia, a population of 2.34 million, ranks 100th position in global education system and 10th in Africa with a score of 52.7. It is 43rd in global ranking on Extent of staff training and 82th on Critical thinking in teaching.
In Namibia, it is mandatory for every citizen between the age limit of 6-16 to receive an education. For this 10 year academic period, the Namibian constitution charges the government with the responsibility of providing fund for education. Literacy rate is at 88.2%.
