Africa Faces Learning Crisis as Millions of Children Leave School Without Basic Skills

Millions of children in Africa attend school but fail to acquire basic reading and math skills, despite progress in increasing access to education. According to estimates, nine out of ten children cannot read or understand a simple sentence by age 10, with the situation being worse in conflict-affected areas. This learning crisis poses significant economic risks, as better learning outcomes are linked to higher national growth and productivity.

Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa and former Nigerian Minister of Education, attributes the crisis to a gap between schooling and learning. “The most urgent gap is the one between schooling and learning,” she said. “Across Africa, children are attending school but not learning… That is not just an education problem; it is an economic one.” Weak data systems and limited accountability exacerbate the issue, with many education systems lacking reliable learning data to inform decision-making.

To address this crisis, Dr. Ezekwesili emphasizes the need for political will, accountability, and strategic alliances among governments, businesses, and philanthropies. She argues that foundational learning should be treated as an economic and moral priority, with leaders embedding learning goals in national plans and budgets transparently. Human Capital Africa aims to bridge the gap between evidence and action, ensuring that political commitments translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

Several African countries, such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, have made notable progress in improving learning outcomes through structured teacher support, real-time data, and integrated learning measurement. Dr. Ezekwesili cites these examples as evidence that “evidence plus leadership equals results.” However, she notes that sustaining progress requires shifting focus from short-term projects to long-term systems, with institutionalized accountability and incentives tied to actual learning gains.

In conflict-affected regions, rebuilding trust is crucial to recovery, with safe learning spaces, psychosocial support, and flexible, community-based education being essential. Dr. Ezekwesili stresses that education should be viewed as an essential part of peacebuilding, providing displaced children with a sense of normalcy and hope. As Human Capital Africa continues to support this agenda, the focus remains on connecting evidence to political will and aligning partners around the goal of ensuring every African child learns to read, count, and thrive by age 10.