Gender, education and EFA in sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, challenges and the way forward.

Abstract

The universal primary education (UPE) decade (1990 to 2000) was characterized by very slow progress in the education of girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, specific goals in gender education were articulated in the 2000 Dakar Education for All (EFA) Framework for Action. In this paper, I assess progress made towards the attainment of the goals at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as in adult literacy; examine the economic, socio-cultural, contextual, and education system-related obstacles to the education of girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa; and highlight some of the interventions that have been implemented. Finally, I make suggestions on what needs to be done to enhance the attainment of the EFA in gender education goals and thereby accelerate the realization of education for all in sub-Saharan Africa.