{"id":147215,"date":"2024-02-06T06:59:21","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T06:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/?p=147215"},"modified":"2024-02-06T06:59:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T06:59:21","slug":"transforming-west-africas-education-system-is-key-to-regions-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/2024\/02\/transforming-west-africas-education-system-is-key-to-regions-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Transforming West Africa’s Education System is Key to Region’s Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"West Africa is staring at an incredible opportunity to provide the skilled workers needed to power the global economy over the coming decades. But can the region fix its education system and ensure its youthful talent pool can capitalise on the opportunities of the 21st century digital economy?<\/h1>\n

According to Titilayo Adewumi, Managing Director at 51风流West Africa, bold steps toward educational reform are needed to promote improved learning outcomes and ensure the region an capitalise on the opportunities presented by abundant population growth. \u201cTechnology should play a central and guiding role in enhancing education systems in West Africa. In Nigeria, for example, Edo state has launched a new system approach that leverages digital technologies to improve teaching and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Challenges with education persist<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With much of the developed world facing ageing populations and slowing population growth, Africa is expected to play a central role in the global labour market. The working age population in Sub-Saharan Africa will\u00a0more than double in the next 30 years<\/a>, accounting for more than two-thirds of total global population growth.<\/p>\n

However, despite Africa’s youthful population, only 9% of children in sub-Saharan Africa that enrol in primary school make it to tertiary education,\u00a0and only 6% graduate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, Commissioner at Nigeria\u2019s Ministry of Youths and Social Development, says: \u201cIn West Africa, and by extension, Lagos, only a fraction of children who start in primary school make it to tertiary education and even fewer manage to graduate. The root of this issue lies in the inefficiencies that plague our education systems, including the lack of digital transformation, which forces millions of students to compete for limited spaces in in-person educational institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adewumi adds. \u201cA lack of digital transformation in West African education systems means millions of students have to travel long distances to physically collect transcripts instead of simply accessing digital copies online.\u201d<\/p>\n

Climate change is adding a further dimension to the region’s education challenges. The impact of droughts, floods, fires, heavy rain and heatwaves on education infrastructure\u00a0can impact school attendance rates and dropout rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One study estimates climate change could keep more than 12 million girls in lower-income countries from completing their education every year\u00a0from as soon as 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bold steps needed<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Experts are calling for bold action to address the region\u2019s education challenges.<\/p>\n

The World Bank’s Western and Central Africa Education Strategy 2022-2025, for example, brings top education leaders and experts together to advance the cause of education in the region. This strategy also sees investment of $3-billion into the education portfolio,\u00a0with an additional $2-billion in the pipeline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to UNICEF’s<\/a>\u00a0strategy for enhancing education in Central and West Africa, the region’s education sector should focus on four key priority areas, namely:<\/p>\n