Keypoints:
- Education climbs to third on Africa’s urgent priorities
- Only half of citizens approve government performance
- Strong public backing for school-age mothers’ education
EDUCATION has climbed sharply up the list of issues Africans want their governments to address, ranking third overall in the latest Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile.
The new findings show a continent increasingly anxious about the future of its schools, teachers and students — and impatient for reform.
Based on 50,961 face-to-face interviews conducted across 38 countries during Afrobarometer’s 2024/2025 Round 10 surveys, the report reveals that education has risen from sixth place in 2021/2023 to become one of the most urgent public concerns today.
Only health and unemployment rank higher.
The survey highlights a widening gap between public expectations and government delivery, with just half of Africans satisfied with education performance, while persistent gender inequality, rural disadvantage and school-based abuse continue to shape how citizens experience learning across the continent.
Education now rivals cost-of-living fears
According to Afrobarometer, education is now tied with the rising cost of living, infrastructure and water supply as one of the top three problems demanding urgent government attention.
The shift reflects growing pressure on national education systems already strained by population growth, teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and limited public funding.
For many households, education is no longer viewed simply as a social service but as the defining pathway out of poverty.
Mixed verdict on government performance
Despite the rising expectations, public approval remains divided.
On average, only 49 percent of respondents say their government is performing ‘fairly well’ or ‘very well’ on education. An equal share rate performance as poor.
Satisfaction varies dramatically by country.
Zambia leads the rankings, with 84 percent of citizens approving of government handling of education, followed by Tanzania at 81 percent.
At the other end of the scale, fewer than one in three citizens express confidence in Angola at 29 percent, Chad at 28 percent, Nigeria at 24 percent and Congo-Brazzaville at just 22 percent.
Education levels rising, but uneven
The data shows slow but meaningful progress in educational attainment.
Nearly two in 10 African adults now have post-secondary education, while 39 percent report completing secondary school. However, 16 percent still say they have never received any formal schooling.
The disparities are stark.
Women, rural residents and poorer households remain significantly less educated than urban, wealthier and male counterparts. Younger Africans are more educated than older generations, reflecting expanding school access over recent decades — though quality remains a major concern.
Gender bias less overt, but risks remain
Encouragingly, only 13 percent of respondents say girls are frequently prevented from attending school because families prioritise boys’ education.
Yet that figure rises to nearly three in 10 in Malawi and Cameroon, showing that traditional barriers persist in parts of the continent.
More troubling are perceptions of abuse within schools themselves.
Across all countries surveyed, 27 percent of citizens say schoolgirls are often or always discriminated against, harassed or pressured for sexual favours by teachers.
Country-level experiences vary widely. In Gabon, 71 percent of respondents report such behaviour is common, while more than half of Cameroonians say the same. In contrast, fewer than one in 10 respondents in Madagascar and just 2 percent in Mauritius report frequent abuse.
Strong support for school-age mothers
One of the clearest messages from the survey is public support for inclusive education policies.
An overwhelming 81 percent of Africans say girls who become pregnant or have children should be allowed to continue their education. Nearly half strongly support the idea.
The finding underscores a growing belief that exclusionary policies trap young mothers in poverty and undermine national development.
A mirror on governance and opportunity
Afrobarometer describes education as a powerful lens through which citizens judge leadership, fairness and future opportunity.
As governments across Africa confront unemployment, demographic growth and economic uncertainty, classrooms are increasingly seen as the frontline of national survival.
The message from citizens is unmistakable: education is no longer a background policy issue — it is central to Africa’s political and economic future.
