Africa has been severely affected, as evidenced by UNESCO’s staggering statistics. Sub-Saharan African countries need to recruit at least 16 million teachers to address attrition and reduce class sizes.
Africa has been severely affected, as evidenced by UNESCO’s staggering statistics. Sub-Saharan African countries need to recruit at least 16 million teachers to address attrition and reduce class sizes.
African educators joined forces to advocate for tax justice and increased public funding, aiming to strengthen education in Africa during the Education Financing Forum in Accra, Ghana from June 21 to 22.
Education International member organizations from Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia came together to share knowledge, strategize, and amplify the call for increased public funding of education, aligning with Education International’s global campaign, “Go Public! Fund Education,” as per a press release.
During the session on June 21, participants were provided with an overview of the global education financing landscape. They analyzed the existing challenges and opportunities to develop effective union strategies for promoting equitable education financing.
Christian Addai-Poku, president of Education International’s Africa Regional Committee, highlighted the urgent need for action, stating that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimates a $100 billion annual education financing gap to meet the global Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Many sub-Saharan African countries will need to double their education budgets by 2030 to achieve this goal. The low share of public investment in education acts as a catalyst for the privatization and commercialization of education.
The forum shed light on one of the primary obstacles to quality public education for all: the global teacher shortage, which amounts to nearly 70 million teachers worldwide.
Africa has been severely affected, as evidenced by UNESCO’s staggering statistics. Sub-Saharan African countries need to recruit at least 16 million teachers to address attrition and reduce class sizes. Furthermore, the region has the lowest percentage of qualified teachers across pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.
Austerity policies and constraints on public wage bills imposed by the International Monetary Fund were identified as major obstacles to enhancing the teaching profession.
Education International has continuously urged the International Monetary Fund to cease its recommendations of reducing or freezing public wage bills in countries. The implementation of such measures inflicts severe repercussions on the education sector, impeding the recruitment and retention of highly skilled teachers and undermining endeavors to enhance public education systems.
The forum underscored the significance of advocating for governments to enhance domestic funding for public education by implementing fair taxation practices. The Tax and Education Alliance played a pivotal role in raising awareness and fostering understanding of the direct connection between taxation and education financing.
On June 22, Education International hosted a high-profile event attended by key politicians and stakeholders, including Ghana’s Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
The event showcased the EI Africa Statement on Education Financing, which united education unions from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.
The statement called on African governments to prioritize public education, commit adequate funds, and invest in the teaching profession by increasing domestic financing through fair and progressive taxation.
Additionally, it urged international financial institutions and development partners to refrain from imposing austerity measures and harmful loan conditions on African governments and called for debt forgiveness to support African countries’ education efforts.
The event is part of a series of engagements aligned with the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, which includes various activities in the African region. These activities encompass a range of initiatives, including a recent workshop focused on the commercialization and privatization of education.
