These challenges are multifaceted, stemming from economic constraints, structural issues, and external factors such as debt and global crises. Addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring the region’s long-term development and the well-being of its future generations.
According to UNESCO, several factors contribute to the low education budgets in many African nations and range from debt burden to economic Instability and Inflation, dependence on external aid and competing priorities and governance challenges among others.
According to a Business Insider Africa report, an educational budget plays a huge role in helping the country prioritize and address critical issues in the sector. It ensures that revenue income and expenditure estimates are accurate, leading to better achievement of educational goals.
The report which highlighted the African countries with the highest education budget shows that nine out of 49 African countries allocate 20% or more of their public spending to education, while 24 allocate at least 15%, and six countries allocate less than 10%
African countries that have low budget allocations to Education are prone to disruptions in the educational sector like strikes and protests by educational workers.
Furthermore, sufficient funding is essential for capital projects and research within schools, enabling the delivery of high-quality education, driving progress, and enhancing the overall educational experience
According to Global Economy these African countries have allocated the least percentage of their annual budget to the education sector:
| Rank | Country | Education budget as % GDP | Data Period |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mauritania |
1.75 |
1997 – 2022 |
|
2 |
C.A. Republic |
1.87 |
1978 – 2022 |
|
3 |
Guinea |
2.04 |
1991 – 2022 |
|
4 |
Comoros |
2.27 |
1998 – 2022 |
|
5 |
Angola |
2.3 |
1985 – 2022 |
|
6 |
Liberia |
2.53 |
2008 – 2022 |
|
7 |
Uganda |
2.64 |
1971 – 2022 |
|
8 |
DR Congo |
2.66 |
1980 – 2022 |
|
9 |
Gabon |
2.7 |
1992 – 2022 |
|
10 |
Cameroon |
2.83 |
1971 – 2022 |
When compared to the countries with high education budget like Namibia (10.03%), Sierra Leone (9.44%), and Lesotho (7.51%), it can be seen these countries’ budgetary allocation to Education is quite minimal.
African countries have been advised to address these challenges by prioritizing education as a key investment, focusing on sustainable revenue generation and improving governance.
