In Africa, access to education was a major success over the past decade; nowadays 17% of the GDP of countries in sub-Saharan Africa is allocated to education. But if universal access to schooling is on the right track, the continent still faces many challenges, especially when it comes to the quality of education, access to higher education and schooling for girls.
With the fastest population growth in the world, by 2050 sub-Saharan Africa will account for one-third of young people in the world, a rapid growth that will put pressure on the education system and lead to an overwhelming need for qualified teachers. The realignment in funding towards education is now more urgent than ever, as challenges to come are piling up. After years in decline, education aid may now be gaining importance on the international agenda. The financing conference of the Global Partnership for Education on February 1 and 2 will be a key event.