Kuyenda Collective’s Post

Current state of education in Nigeria and the need for urgent reform ( part 2) Let me continue from the previous discussion, we will delve into more challenges and the pathways to reform that can transform our education system into one that truly serves all Nigerians. 4. Unfavorable Government Policies Government policies have not been favourable to the growth of our education sector. With only 7.2% of the federal budget allocated to education in 2022, we are far from meeting UNESCO’s recommendation of 15-20%. This underfunding, coupled with frequent policy changes, creates confusion and hampers progress. 5. Illiteracy Among Parents and Guardians Illiteracy among parents is another critical challenge. Nearly 38% of Nigerian adults lack basic literacy skills, which hinders their ability to support their children's education. This is particularly detrimental to girls, who are more likely to drop out of school due to these circumstances. To reform Nigeria’s educational system, we need to: 1. Increase funding to meet global standards. 2. Invest in teacher training and improve school infrastructure. 3. Implement consistent, research-based policies and prioritize digital literacy. 4. Engage communities to value education, and enforce measures to support girls' education. 5. Collaborate with government, the private sector, and international partners for sustainable change. The fact is that the challenges are significant, but with collective effort and commitment, we can reform our educational system to unlock the potentials in every Nigerian child. Which other suggestions do you have as the way forward . write in the comment section.

GSF recently hosted an event on the sidelines of the #EducationWorldForum in London. The event, titled “Innovative Partnerships at Scale to Achieve SDG 4 in Africa”, was an opportunity for education ministers and policy officials from Sub-Saharan African countries to highlight successes in their education systems, acknowledge where improvements could be made, and identify opportunities to drive change through meaningful partnerships. The event was attended by UK government officials, multilateral representatives, NGOs, philanthropies, and senior education leaders. Hon Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education of #SierraLeone spoke of the “creative ways” in which the country is pursuing to build a more resilient education system that harnesses innovative approaches to focus on achieving greater learning outputs. During the panel discussion, he spoke of the non-state actors that have pledged significant sums of investment in outcomes-based funds and programs to support the national focus on learning. Particularly mentioning the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge, the Minister said that his government pinpointed where innovations and good practices could be scaled up and replicated in schools operating across the country. He concluded by suggesting that the Sierra Leonean government is open to working with more actors—acknowledging that the national budget allocation of 22% for education is nowhere near enough to address the “challenges that we face” across the continent. Thanks to our event partners IDP Foundation, Inc., Jacobs Foundation and Vitol Foundation with moderation by Dr. Vongai Nyahunzvi Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ddqSRffq

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚'𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Uganda's education sector is making progress, but challenges persist. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬: 23% increase in education allocation over 5 years (FY2019/20-FY2023/24) Per capita spending rises from $40.8 to $50.5 29.5% growth in education grants to local governments However, regional disparities, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven resource distribution remain. To drive sustainable growth and competitiveness, Uganda needs: Increased investment in education Equitable resource allocation Stabilized education funding Enhanced development spending 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/gXXJhmxs #EducationForAll #InvestInEducation #CSBAG

Based on findings from the The World Bank Country Opinion Survey, education emerged as the top area for the World Bank to concentrate its efforts in achieving significant developmental outcomes. Interestingly, when respondents were asked about their level of trust in various entities to do what is right, the national government failed to rank within the top five choices. This trend was consistent across diverse regions including Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific, as well as globally aggregated data. Corina Gardner, IDP Foundation, Inc. CEO, in a recently published Opinion piece based on the survey report calls for the need to use these findings as wake-up among the international community and solidify the urgent need to inject new thinking into our approach to education. She stressed the need for localization and calls on the World Bank to take proactive action towards improving robust data on affordable non-state schools and broadening financial access for the affordable non-state sector.  #meaningfulsystemchange #rethinkingeducation Read the full article below.

What does it mean to achieve quality education for all? I'll argue that it means that every child must have access to a qualified teacher. Over time, we've seen research reports that confirm the fact that teachers are the most important school-related factor affecting students' learning and behavioral outcomes. Currently, the world is in need of an additional 44 million teachers to achieve SDG 4 by 2030, and while this is a drop from the 69 million teachers stated in 2016 by UNESCO, you will agree that given six years to 2030, we have a very long way to go. This issue of teacher shortage is more detrimental in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where we need an additional 15 million teachers to educate 650 million young people. We cannot pride in our youthful potential if we are not investing in developing their capacity. I think it is counter-intuitive to raise optimism about the power of Africa if education is not fixed, particularly teacher shortage and all the elements surrounding it. The work we do at Schoolinka is truly aspirational, as we are driven by the passion to build a super global workforce out of Africa, by empowering the teachers. However, we can't do this alone - the challenge is enormous, and it's beyond one organization! Private innovative financing, increased government investments, multistakeholder collaborations, international cooperation, and enabling policies and social contracts need to be developed and implemented at scale for us to build a prosperous Africa, driven by intelligent and smart young people. As we keep doing the work, empowering one teacher at a time, and unlocking possibilities for many children, we will also keep advocating for more people to get involved, and position Africa towards greatness.

Amidst the debate surrounding IFC - International Finance Corporation's backing of Bridge International Academies, I advocate for increased funding for low-cost private schools. These schools, predominantly run by passionate local African educators, represent the true face of accessible education in Sub-Saharan Africa. They shouldn't suffer unjustly due to the actions of a single entity in the sector. While I support the ongoing investigation and efforts to enhance accountability, it's crucial not to overlook the urgent need for quality education in underserved communities. We must ensure accountability across all sectors, public and private, while continuing to support initiatives that provide vital education opportunities for vulnerable children. Now is the time for constructive dialogue and targeted action, not abandonment of those in need. https://lnkd.in/ei3BCgHB

Political leadership is key to turning around the learning crisis and ensuring that every child is in school and acquiring foundational skills, including the ability to read and write. ✍ Hon. Neema K. Lugangira, Tanzanian MP and Regional Representative of Africa at IPNEd, writes that "The learning crisis is not an insurmountable challenge - it’s a problem we have the power to solve." Read the full article published last month by the Global Partnership for Education: https://lnkd.in/d2Rjef-r

🚨 60 years after the UN's Universal Literacy Campaign, we're facing an unprecedented crisis: For the first time in history, we risk seeing a GROWTH in adult illiteracy. The numbers are staggering: - 250 million children out of school - 1 in 5 African children missing primary education - 70% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries unable to read a simple story But here's the real shock: 80% of government officials are overestimating their country's literacy rates. We can't solve a crisis we don't acknowledge. As H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, warns: "the learning crisis is neither widely understood nor a matter of priority." The good news? There's a clear path forward. International Parliamentary Network for Education has outlined 5 game-changing steps: - Acknowledge the extent of the challenge - Mobilize society-wide support for learning - Measure learning outcomes effectively - Set clear targets to focus effort - Fund education adequately and efficiently 💡 Did you know? In Africa, only 8 out of 44 governments (with data) allocate the recommended 20% or more of their budget to education. This isn't just a statistic – it's millions of futures at stake. 🔍 Want to discover how parliamentarians can transform education globally? Read the full article on 'Harnessing the power of parliamentarians to end the global learning crisis' https://lnkd.in/dGdreKau What role do you think your local parliamentarians should play in education reform? Share your thoughts below #EducationCrisis #GlobalLiteracy #Parliament #Education #SDG4 #Leadership #PolicyChange #EducationTransformation #AUYearofEducation #FoundationalLearning African Union UNICEF Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) PAL Network GEM Report UNESCO VVOB The World Bank Human Capital Africa Global Partnership for Education Hempel Foundation African Renaissance Trust UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning RTI International

Navigating the Soaring Costs of Private Education in South Africa As we honour Global Money Week, let us dive into the landscape of private school fees which is evolving rapidly, with elite schools nearly doubling their annual fees over the last decade. According to Momentum data, the projection suggests a potential tripling of fees in the next decade. Highs and Hikes: In 2024, elite schools are making headlines with fees surpassing R350,000 per year for boarding and tuition. Hilton College, historically the most expensive, leads the pack at nearly R400,000. The Alarming Trend: As we reflect on the past decade, the numbers are eye-opening. Tuition fees at the top 10 private schools have surged by an average of over 94%, outpacing inflation significantly. Impact on Families: The financial burden is already affecting South Africans, with fees increasing at an average of 7.3% across the 40 most expensive schools, exceeding the expected inflation rate. High living costs and stagnant incomes pose challenges for families. Financial Strain: The erosion of salaries, coupled with rising costs, is evident in reduced enrolments, particularly among young families. Curro Holdings highlighted the financial strain on parents, impacting enrolments in the early grades. Future Projections: Momentum's data suggests an average annual cost of R192,127 for day students by 2030. The trajectory is set, and the financial landscape of private education is undergoing a seismic shift. Reference: BusinessTech, Malcolm Libera, Trouble for private school fees in South Africa, 18 Feb 2024. Available at: https://lnkd.in/dH5RmA_t Private Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd | An Authorised Financial Services Provider | FSP 50787 | https://bit.ly/48dARcz #WealthManagement #GlobalMoneyWeek #SAEconomy #FinancialPlanning #PlanningAhead #FinancialManagement #FinancialWealthManagement

Meaningful systems change can only happen through deep collaboration with government and the use of evidence-based methods. In Tanzania, Educate! spent the last few years building strong partnerships and carefully mapping the policy environment to support the government’s vision for education reform. Learn about Educate!s approach below