Around 80 international TVET experts met in Dakar in June 2022 at the invitation of IIEP-UNESCO. The aim was not only to take stock of the actions of the platform of expertise in vocational training (Pefop) over the past seven years, but above all to look ahead to the future.
The African continent accounts for 38 per cent of the world’s out-of-school children, up from 24 per cent in 2000. Only 7 out of 10 children complete primary school (2). This means that children excluded from basic education are not exclusively from disadvantaged areas, nor are they only from minority groups or groups with special needs. These out-of-school children, who represent a significant proportion of the region’s future generation, are currently being abandoned by the institution responsible for providing their schooling.
Between 2000 and 2014, Africa experienced annual economic growth of 4 to 5 per cent (1), among the highest rates in the world. However, the cumulative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, population growth, and the expansion of access to education are placing heavy demands on education systems.
Because the effects of demographic trends only become apparent in the longer term, demographers and decision-makers sometimes struggle to persuade their fellow citizens of the need to mobilize resources today in order to benefit tomorrow’s society. African countries must intensify their investment in education and training, to help young people integrate into economic life and transition into the labour market.
To mark the twentieth anniversary of IIEP UNESCO Dakar, we wanted to share our insights. Our findings are based on evidence from over 50 education sector analyses conducted since 2001 in partnership with African countries. This approach has enabled us to identify the lowest common denominator of the challenges we are facing today: the five education challenges in Africa. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, these themes now guide our actions and our strategic direction.