EDUCATION IN THE SAHEL: TARGET 1: TEACH THE WEALTH OF CHILDREN HOW TO READ TARGET 3: IMPROVE TODAY AND SKILLS AND LITERACY TOMORROW Reach the target of 10.2 million more children in school and able to read by FOR YOUNG ADULTS 2030. This entails cutting learning poverty through immediate and concerted action Ensure that 13.4 million more young adults, to improve early childhood development including 6.5 million women and girls, programs, expand access to better- become literate and better equipped with equipped primary schools, and improve foundational skills by 2030. the effectiveness of early-grade teaching. Achieving these ambitious goals requires good policies and programs that are tailored to the challenging conditions in the Sahel. It also requires sustained political commitment— both at the top and throughout the government—together with better monitoring and evaluation and deeper involvement from TARGET 2: INCREASE local communities. GIRLS’ EDUCATION Education is the only real path forward for the Sahel region. Countries should choose their Enroll 2 million more girls in secondary own strategies for achieving these goals. school by 2030. This involves enroll 2.1 million more girls in secondary Together, we can take bold actions to claim school by 2030. This involves providing the future that all Sahelian children and youth scholarships for girls and using public- deserve. private partnerships to expand supply of schooling, and using innovations like adaptive learning software to improve quality and keep girls in school. GOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL school and can read and comprehend an age- appropriate passage by the end of primary school. In every Sahel country, fewer than 50 Good education for all is the key to a better long- percent of adult females are literate, compared term future for the Sahel region. Education improves with 59 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. employability and incomes, narrows gender gaps, lifts families out of poverty, strengthens institutions, Many factors have kept education from fulfilling and yields benefits that echo to the next generation. its potential—not just poor conditions in schools and classrooms, but also weaknesses in Millions more children in school, yet access to system management, lack of focus on student quality education remains a challenge. learning, and very limited education budgets. Only about 3 percent of GDP in the region is The good news is that the region has taken the spent on education, which is below the 4 percent STRATEGIC APPROACH TO important first steps toward building this future. in Sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond the education EDUCATION IN THE SAHEL Over the past 15 years, many more children have system, education is held back by many societal been able to access education: enrollment in the constraints—like widespread extreme poverty, TODAY 2025 2030 region has nearly doubled in primary education rapid population growth, obstructive social and tripled in secondary education. Governments norms, devastating climate change, and high have launched numerous initiatives and announced levels of conflict and violence. Game-chamgers for quick high-level commitments in support of education. progress and building momentum Still, many children remain out of school, and those who are in school learn far less than they should. WHAT WOULD BE Support a resilient recovery Only 12 percent of the children are enrolled in THE GAME CHANGERS? by advancing on critical education goals by 2025 Yet, there are many reasons for hope. Communities are playing a key role in Medium-term policies and investments for creating and improving schools. Similarly, sustainability public-private partnerships can extend the reach of the state, in a region where religious Invest in system strengthening for continued progress and secular private providers already educate for 2030 and beyond many children. Building on past gains and current strengths, Basis for interventions: the Sahel Education White Paper identifies real game-changers for countries to achieve • Scale what works, focus on highest priorities for three critical targets: equitable growth • Informed by global evidence, regional experiences, and most promising old and new technology