Gender, Education and Economic Development in Africa

Abstract

The links between education, human capital accumulation and
national development cannot be overemphasized. Education is the
most potent factor that significantly changes the life of an indivicual
and empowers him/her to contribute to national development. It is the
engine that largely drives the economic development throughout the
world as well as facilitates personal success at all times. There is,
therefore, a growing consensus that human development through the
provision of learning should be at the center of any development
process. However, evidence from most parts of Africa suggests 1hat
education is yet to be accorded the priority attention in the
development process. In Africa (as in most developing regions of the
World) educational statistics are scarce. Available evidence shows
that generally literacy levels, enrolment rates and the level of
schooling completed are relatively low, with a marked gender gap.
The most recent statistics compiled by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2002) on
Adult literacy rate refers to 1995.