In 1998, over 50 million African children did not attend school
In 2002, more than 60 million African children did not go to school:
- There is chronic and acute shortage of schools;
- Many families simply can not afford to send their children to school;
- Many children take care of their parents dying from AIDS, and their siblings.
- Young girls are routinely denied access to education;
- Many children fortunate enough to go to school trek over 10 miles on empty stomachs.
- There is a serious shortage of trained teachers;
- Most of the teachers are not paid for up to eight consecutive months.