West Africa's education system requires an overhaul or significant change

In a recent study conducted by SAP, it was revealed that an alarming 97 percent of African organizations are anticipated to experience significant tech skills challenges in 2023. This acute shortage can be traced back to the inefficiencies prevalent in the region's education systems, particularly the lack of digital transformation.

To combat this issue, the World Bank has invested USD 3 billion into the education portfolio in Western and Central Africa as part of its 2022-2025 strategy, with an additional USD 2 billion in the pipeline. Meanwhile, UNICEF has partnered with local governments, NGOs, and other organizations in West Africa to improve access to quality education, facilitate teacher training, and enhance learning environments for children between 2022 and 2025. These collaborations are aimed at ensuring inclusive education, strengthening education systems, and promoting child rights and protection in the region.

UNICEF's strategy in Central and West Africa concentrates on four key priority areas: access to education, quality learning, girls' education, and education in emergencies. However, despite these efforts, only 9% of the 98% of young people who enroll at the primary level in Sub-Saharan Africa make it to tertiary education, with only 6% eventually graduating.

To bridge this gap, initiatives like the SAP Dual Study Program and the SAP Young Professionals Program are being proposed. The SAP Dual Study Program partners with top universities to take talented graduates into SAP-specific training, helping them bridge the gap between university and the workplace. The SAP Young Professionals Program provides a two- to three-month enablement plan that includes SAP software functional and technical knowledge, resulting in certification and employability within the broader SAP partner and customer ecosystem. Graduates of the program exit as associate consultants, making them instantly employable.

The future of the African labor market is promising, with Africa expected to play a central role. However, climate change poses a significant threat. A study by the Malala Fund estimates that climate change could keep more than 12 million girls in lower-income countries from completing their education every year from as soon as 2025. This could potentially exacerbate the tech skills shortage.

Commissioner Ogunlende and Adewumi have emphasized the need for timely investments into strengthening the West African education system to better utilize the region's abundant youth skills. As the working-age population in Sub-Saharan Africa is set to more than double in the next 30 years, addressing the tech skills shortage is crucial to ensure Africa's active participation in the global labor market.

This article was originally published by Africa Feeds. The lack of digital transformation in West African education systems, coupled with the challenges posed by climate change, underscores the need for concerted efforts to improve access to quality education and foster tech skills development in the region.