Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a very promising region with strong economic potential and millions of young men and women who can make remarkable contributions to the economies of their countries if provided with quality education. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Education for All (EFA) movement have brought about significant improvements in primary education across Africa and have increased the number of children who complete schooling at the primary level. This, together with the increasing labor market need for educated and skilled individuals in both the formal and informal sectors, led to a strong demand for quality secondary education.
This report serves as background paper for a comprehensive report led by the MasterCard Foundation. The research complements recent WISE research in other non-western regions where increasing scrutiny on relevance and purpose drives the conversation and the action among education leaders.
