This information was presented in the World Bank’s biannual Africa Pulse Report for November.
The report highlighted the considerable gap in educational investment between Sub-Saharan Africa and more affluent nations, noting that, despite recent increases in funding, the levels remain inadequate to fulfill both national and international educational goals.
This lack of investment in education is further exacerbated by a shortage of critical resources, such as textbooks, teaching materials, and technology, which adversely affect learning outcomes.
According to the global bank, a girl in Sub-Saharan Africa today will have attended school for an average of only eight years by the time she reaches 18, compared to 13 years in high-income countries.
“Currently, many schools still lack vital resources like textbooks, teaching materials, and technology, or fail to utilize them effectively. Despite recent boosts in education funding, the existing levels are insufficient to achieve national and global educational objectives: in 2021, 29 low-income countries (predominantly in Africa) allocated an average of just $54 per student, while high-income countries invested around $8,500 per student,” the report stated.
Additionally, the report illustrated the disparity in overall education spending, revealing that governments in high-income countries invest approximately $117,000 per student by age 18, in contrast to only $1,900 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The majority of education budgets in Sub-Saharan Africa are allocated to salaries, which limits the availability of funds for learning materials and enhancements to educational infrastructure, according to the lender.
The World Bank has cautioned that this educational deficit poses a significant threat to the region's economic prospects. Sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by a rapidly expanding population, has a unique chance to revamp its educational systems and leverage its youthful demographic.
However, without considerable investments to bridge this funding gap, the region may lag in economic development and human capital growth, the report emphasized.
In the meantime, the Federal Government, along with 22 of the 36 states, has designated N6.131 trillion of their 2025 budgets for education.
This allocation constitutes merely 9.27 percent of the N66.111 trillion projected for the upcoming budget year, falling well short of the recommended standards established by Nigeria, the World Bank, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Additionally, the report urged immediate measures to boost education funding, enhance resource distribution, and ensure that all children and young people, especially girls, have access to quality education that prepares them for future success.
The findings indicate that an extra year of schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa can increase individual earnings by 12.4 percent, surpassing the global average of 10 percent, with women benefiting even more at 14.5 percent.
The World Bank has called on governments to focus on reforms that enhance foundational literacy, provide skills training tailored to local economies, and implement initiatives that facilitate the transition of youth from education to the workforce.
According to the report, the working-age population in the region is projected to double by 2050, creating a significant opportunity for economic transformation, provided that education systems are improved.