10 African Countries with the Lowest Budget Allocation for Education
Source: https://africa.businessinsider.com/
Many African countries struggle to fund their education systems due to economic constraints, structural issues, and external factors such as debt and global crises. These challenges, including debt burdens, economic instability, inflation, reliance on foreign aid, and governance issues, contribute to low education budgets. Addressing these challenges is essential for ensuring long-term development and the well-being of future generations in the region, as highlighted by UNESCO.
A sufficient education budget is crucial for addressing key issues in the sector, ensuring accurate revenue and expenditure estimates, and achieving educational goals. Low budget allocations often lead to disruptions such as strikes and protests by education workers.
A report highlights that while nine African countries allocate 20% or more of their public spending to education, many others allocate less than 10%, resulting in challenges. Adequate funding is also essential for capital projects and research, which are necessary for providing high-quality education and driving progress.
| Rank | Country | Education budget as % GDP | Data Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mauritania | 1.75 | 1997 – 2022 |
| 2 | C.A. Republic | 1.87 | 1978 – 2022 |
| 3 | Guinea | 2.04 | 1991 – 2022 |
| 4 | Comoros | 2.27 | 1998 – 2022 |
| 5 | Angola | 2.3 | 1985 – 2022 |
| 6 | Liberia | 2.53 | 2008 – 2022 |
| 7 | Uganda | 2.64 | 1971 – 2022 |
| 8 | DR Congo | 2.66 | 1980 – 2022 |
| 9 | Gabon | 2.7 | 1992 – 2022 |
| 10 | Cameroon | 2.83 | 1971 – 2022 |
Compared to countries with higher education budgets like Namibia (10.03%), Sierra Leone (9.44%), and Lesotho (7.51%), many African nations allocate minimal funding to education. To address these challenges, experts advise African countries to prioritize education as a key investment, focus on sustainable revenue generation, and improve governance.
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