Education in Africa: Key challenges and solutions for developing human capital

Human capital enables countries to harness skills, knowledge, and innovation to grow their economies and improve the well-being of their citizens. Over the past 25 years, countries in sub-Saharan Africa have made substantial progress in primary school access. Despite these gains, many young people who attend school are not acquiring the basic skills necessary to thrive in a diverse and changing labor market.

On April 19, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings and the World Bank co-hosted a presentation and panel discussion that focused on challenges and solutions in developing human capital. The event began with findings and insights from a new study, “Facing Forward: Schooling for Learning in Africa,” which examines how to improve learning outcomes in basic education in the region. Following the presentation, a panel of experts discussed the implications of the research for policy and practice.

After the discussion, the panelists took questions from the audience.