Nearly 100 Million Children and Youth Out of School in Africa

The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mohammed Belhocine, delivered a sobering message during the ongoing AU Summit in Addis Ababa, revealing that nearly 100 million children and youth aged 5 to 19 are deprived of educational opportunities across Africa.

Commissioner Belhocine emphasized the profound social consequences of this educational crisis, highlighting the vulnerability of these out-of-school children and youth to exploitation by various nefarious groups, including terrorist organizations, drug traffickers, and human traffickers. He warned that without access to education, these individuals face a heightened risk of falling into criminal activities or becoming victims of human trafficking.

To address this urgent issue, Belhocine stressed the importance of providing vocational and technical training to equip these marginalized youth with the skills necessary for self-employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Acknowledging the significant challenges in delivering quality education, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Belhocine revealed a stark statistic: nine out of 10 children in the region are unable to read and comprehend a simple text by the age of 10. This educational deficit underscores the critical need for comprehensive reforms and targeted interventions to improve educational outcomes.

Looking ahead, Belhocine underscored the substantial financial resources required to achieve universal education coverage by 2030, estimating a funding gap of approximately 90 billion U.S. dollars. He appealed for global support and solidarity to assist Africa in bridging this gap and ensuring that every child has access to quality education, thereby unlocking their full potential and contributing to the continent’s development and prosperity.