Education is the
bedrock of any thriving society as it is crucial for the continued existence
of mankind. Without education, information cannot be passed down to the next
generation. It is a basic human right that must not be tooled with.
Unfortunately, Africa is
still lagging behind in this index among the continents of the world. In Africa, more than one-third of its adult population can neither read nor write. The figure
for its young population is also scary; more than 30% of its primary-aged
children are not in school.
In a nutshell, a
literate person- which can be used interchangeably with being educated- is
someone that can read and write. The importance of education cannot be
overemphasized in recognition of its contribution to health, impact on poverty, and economic growth.
A global assessment has
shown that the most educated nations invariably have the best economies. Thus
if we must advance our economy, education must be given priority right from the
basic to the highest level.
Nonetheless, some
nations in Africa have allocated appreciable resources to education over the
decades. They have implemented policies to ensure that a greater part of its
citizens has access to quality education.
In this article, we do a
compilation of the top educated nations in Africa.
No 10. Gabon
This small African
country with a population of about 2,225,734 has over the years paid attention
to its educational system. Education is mandatory for all children aged 6-16,
with primary education free for all its young citizens.
In Gabon and a child is
expected to graduate from secondary school at least before their twentieth
birthday.
With an effective
academic calendar and policy of mandatory education for all its citizens, Gabon
has a literacy rate of 83.2%.
No 9 Burundi
Burundi has a
population of 12,543,196 with a large number of its population educated. At the
basic level Education is free but compulsory, as every child is expected to be
enrolled as soon as he/she comes of age.
Burundi has a literacy
rate of 85.0% and is thus positioned as the ninth most educated nation in
Africa.
No 8 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe located in the
Southern part of Africa is the eighth most educated country in Africa. Its
basic education span for 7 years while secondary is 6 years with an academic
calendar that runs from January to December.
To encourage its
citizens to go to school early education has been made free and accessible. It's over 15,261.118 population is highly educated making Zimbabwe the eighth most
educated country in the continent.
No 7 Cape Verde
Cape Verde is among the
smallest countries in the world with a population of just 555,987 people.
However, education is a serious affair in the country as a good number of its
citizens are educated.
This island country has
a literacy rate of 87.6% making it the seventh most educated country in Africa.
No 6 Botswana
The sixth most educated
nation in Africa is Botswana. The country has a policy of free but compulsory
education for its citizens. At the primary level lessons are taught in Setswana
the nation’s local dialect for the first four years. Afterward, classes are then
taught in English.
The nation with a
population of about 2.351.627 has a literacy rate of 88.5%
No 5 Mauritius
Just like the other
Mauritius has made primary education free and compulsory for its young
citizens. Though it’s free at the secondary level it is not compulsory to
attend. This has been so since 1976 till this moment.
Though a small country;
with a population of 1,271,768 education is taken seriously by the government.
With its literacy rate put at 90.6%, Mauritius is recognized as the fifth most
educated nation in Africa.
No 4 Libya
Former president of
Libya Late Mummar Gaddafi played an important role in elevating Libya
academically. Primary education is free and also compulsory for children.
The country has a
population of 6,871,292 and a literacy rate of 91.0% making it the fourth
most educated country onThe former the continent.
No 3 Seychelles
This is the smallest
country in Africa with a population of 98,347. Education is however an
important affair in this small country. Education is free and compulsory from 6
to 18 years. Though students buy their own uniforms books and tuition is paid
for by the government.
Seychelles is rated as
the third most educated nation in Africa and has a literacy rate of 91.8%.
No 2 South Africa
South Africa has been a
powerhouse in Africa and has contributed immensely to the growth of the
continent. The government has budgeted over the years funds to make sure its
citizens are educated.
Primary education is
compulsory in South Africa with attempts made to achieve equal opportunities
for its citizens.
With a population of
59,308,690, South Africa has done pretty well to educate its people. With a literacy
rate of 94.3%, South Africa is thus rated as the second most educated country on the continent.
No 1 Equatorial Guinea
At the top of this
rating is Equatorial Guinea. It has a population of 1,402,983 and has made
education free and compulsory until the age of 14.
Education is a serious
affair in this country making it the country with the highest number of
educated people on the continent. Equatorial Guinea has a literacy rate of
95.3%.
Conclusion
The lack of basic education across African societies has inadvertently led to the numerous crises we face as a continent. Education is one of the core pillars with respect to a country’s developmental path.
The absence of
education makes development a remote and utopian delusion. Poverty, bad
leadership, and corruption are the three major “strangulators” of quality
education across the continent. The direct result has been violence, crime, and
wars in Africa.
For Africa to thrive
significant investments must be made for educational purposes. Education
guarantees social stability, quality health care, enlightened citizenry, and a politically conscious populace. These are features commonly associated with
developed nations.