Lilian, a 12-year-old girl from rural West Pokot, Kenya, spends most days taking care of her younger siblings instead of attending school. Her mother’s income from selling water is insufficient to support Lilian to go to school, forcing her to forego her dreams of becoming a doctor. Her story is one among many echoed across Africa, where poverty and conflict create overwhelming barriers to education.
The number of children out of school in Africa has reached alarming levels, leaving an entire generation’s future in jeopardy. According to the 2024 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, the continent is home to more than half of the 251 million children and youth globally who are out of school. In comparison, in 2022, UNESCO highlighted that 244 million children and youth aged 6 to 18 were out of school globally, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly 30% of this total. Over the past two years, the situation has worsened, with global numbers increasing.
In a continent that is rich with potential yet marred by persistent challenges, the issue of education continues to loom large, threatening the region’s socioeconomic development.
Understanding the education divide
The education gap across Africa remains a pressing concern. Nations such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic show the world’s highest out-of-school rates, mainly affecting marginalized communities, especially young girls. The GEM report indicates that about 98 million children remain out of school in sub-Saharan Africa alone, an increase from previous years despite global efforts to improve access to education.
See also: Nigerian literacy crisis deepening, affecting millions of children
West and Central Africa struggle with access due to insecurity and violence, while East Africa experiences high dropout rates.
Gender disparities are common, as girls are more likely than boys to miss out on school, especially in rural areas where early marriages and cultural norms further limit educational opportunities.
“When girls are pushed into marriage at a young age, it cuts short their dreams. I have seen many girls drop out of school here often, with each class having more boys than girls. We recently had a case of a 10-year-old girl married off to an 80-year-old man, and it’s sad to see the girls missing opportunities,” Grace, a teacher from Malawi, says.
Systemic issues such as inadequate teacher training, underfunded schools, and a lack of infrastructure further compound these challenges. The education gap is mainly relevant to specific age groups, with 6 to 11-year-olds struggling to enroll and 15 to 17-year-olds unable to progress to secondary education.
Critical barriers to education in Africa
Many families in the region often prioritize survival over schooling. The GEM report highlights that children from low-income households are five times more likely to be out of school than those from wealthier families.
Conflict has made the situation worse in other nations by displacing millions of children. Schools are often targeted during violence, as seen in South Sudan, the Sahel region, and Ethiopia.
Ten-year-old Yusuf from Ethiopia spends his days in a refugee camp yearning for another chance after his home and school were destroyed in a raid. He explains:
“When they came, we escaped into the hills. I saw our classrooms burn to the ground. I miss my teachers, I miss my friends. I wish I could go back to school again.”
In most cases, refugee camps lack temporary schooling solutions which will result in a generation of displaced children who have had no access to education.
In West Africa, the prevalence of child labor is closely linked to limited access to education. This is evident in Burkina Faso and Mali, where over 20% of children work. As of 2021, 26% of children aged 5 to 17 years in sub-Saharan Africa were engaged in child labor, perpetuating their vulnerability. A lack of education results in children being trapped in exploitative jobs thus extending the cycle of poverty.
