Fact Sheet: Africa Education Intiative

Presidential Action

Today at the Leon Sullivan Summit in Washington D.C., the President will announce a doubling of funds for the African Education Initiative announced last July, bringing our total spending to $200 million over the next 5 years.

Improving Africa's Education

African children are the future of the continent. Their education is key to future economic growth and lasting democracy, leading to greater stability and improved standards of living. The current state of education in Africa, however, is plagued by a lack of funds, teachers, textbooks, and transparency. Consider:

• Primary school enrollments and literacy rates in Africa are among the lowest in the world.
• 42 million school children in sub-Saharan Africa are not enrolled in school.
• Many children cannot afford to go or stay in primary school.

The multi-year basic education initiative, Strengthening Basic Education in Africa, provides needed training and materials to both teachers and students. With this additional funding, many African students will receive textbooks written in their local language and girls will receive scholarships covering the cost of tuition. Likewise, new and existing teachers will receive the needed training to educate children more effectively.