"When a child has to bend forwards to write on the ground, or perhaps balance an unstable book on their lap, their handwriting, both in terms of legibility and speed is severely affected."
As the international community begins defining a post-2015 development agenda, Africa faces a twin crisis of access and learning. With new research, in depth coverage and perspectives from leading thinkers, This Is Africa considers the role learning might play in a post-MDG development agenda on education.
This September we are taking an in depth look at the state of education in Africa. With less than three years remaining until the 2015 deadline to meet the Millennium Development Goals, there are mounting fears that low income regions - in particular sub-Saharan Africa - are at risk of falling well short of MDG2, which focuses on equal and universal access to primary education.
One of Africa's biggest challenges is the extreme scarcity of local management talent, argues Guy Pfeffermann
It is the best investment to build prosperous, healthy and equitable societies.
Unesco data reveal the extent of the disparities in Africa's education systems, writes Pauline Rose
Education has the capacity to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
For children who are able to access education, schooling does not always translate into learning, writes Rajiv Shah
Quality learning for all children is the path to development, peace and prosperity for Liberia, says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
We know from the world’s most improved school systems that when the education community does act strategically, progress can be made very quickly, writes John Fallon
“My view is that achieving the MDG is critical to everything we do on global education” - Gordon Brown
While getting every child into school is vitally important, the quality of education they receive must also be addressed, writes Aliko Dangote
The evidence suggests that schools still continue to churn out semi-literate and semi-numerate citizens, argues Sara Ruto
Communities around the world are suffering from widening gaps in wages and incomes due in part to skills set disparities
Access+: a focus on education in Africa
This Is Africa is taking a close look at the state of learning in Africa this September, with new reserch, high-level commentary and in-depth analysis.
This Is Africa takes an in-depth look at the state of education in Africa
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