Governments in Africa Falling Short on Education Funding, UNICEF Warns
As the continent celebrates the Day of the African Child this Sunday, a new UNICEF analysis reveals that most African governments are failing to adequately fund education, putting the future of millions of children at risk.
The report finds that only 9 out of 49 African countries – less than 1 in 5 – are dedicating 20% or more of their national budgets to education, as recommended by the Sustainable Development Goals. 24 countries committed at least 15%, while 6 countries directed less than 10% of their budgets to education.
“Children have the right to quality education, but education systems are failing far too many of them,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli.
Kadilli added, “To ensure prosperity in Africa we urgently need to see a continental revolution where commitments are turned into concrete action so children can attain the vital foundational skills necessary for them to progress to higher forms of education and realise their full potential.”
The lack of education financing is having a devastating impact across the continent. Despite progress in boosting primary and lower secondary enrolment over the past decade, schools remain underfunded and under-resourced, with overcrowded classrooms and insufficient teachers, many without adequate training.
As a result, learning outcomes remain alarmingly low, with four in every five 10-year-olds in Africa unable to read and understand a simple story.
“To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on universal, inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030, African countries need to raise their investment in education to the globally agreed target of 20% of their national budgets,” said UNICEF Representative a.i. in Zimbabwe, Dr. Nicholas Alipui.
In Zimbabwe, the government is currently allocating 15% of its budget to education, falling short of the 20% benchmark. “UNICEF stands ready to support the Government of Zimbabwe to fully execute the budget available for education,” Alipui added.
Across the continent, the financing gap for children’s education is staggering. While an estimated $183 billion is needed annually to achieve the education SDGs, available resources stand at only $106 billion, leaving a gap of over 40%.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the crisis, with education spending in 2022 still below pre-pandemic levels and on par with a decade ago.
“The need for investment will only escalate to meet the requirements of a fast-growing, school-aged population, as it is estimated that the continent will be home to 1 billion children by 2050,” Kadilli warned. “Without urgent attention, the huge lack of financing for education will be catastrophic for a generation of students and the future economic growth and stability of the region.”
UNICEF is calling on African Union member states to take immediate action, starting with re-committing to making education a budget priority and reaching the 20% spending target by 2025.
The organisation also urged governments to increase funding for early learning, with at least 10% of education budgets dedicated to pre-primary education. Evidence shows that investments in the early years are among the most powerful and cost-effective measures governments can take.
“To give children the best start in life, we need to prioritise pre-primary and foundational learning,” said Kadilli. “By the age of 6, 85% of a child’s brain development is already complete. Failure to invest in these crucial early years will have lifelong consequences.”
UNICEF called on African leaders to also leverage international resources, enhance transparency and accountability, and invest more in recruiting and retaining quality teachers.
“The time for action is now,” Kadilli said. “Africa’s children deserve nothing less than a quality education that will unlock their full potential and propel the continent towards a more prosperous future.”
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