The unique challenges of education in emerging West African countries

Abstract

The high rate of illiteracy in West Africa continues to attract the attention of the world and world agencies. Economic, political, cultural and religious factors constitute barriers to eradication of illiteracy in the sub-region. The targets of United Nations Millennium Development Goals Numbers 2 and 3 of achieving universal primary education and the elimination of gender disparity in 2015 respectively has not been met. The issue of the lack of access to education that children face in West Africa is not exclusive to the girl-child alone. Boys are affected as well but for slightly different reasons. As the sub-region continues to battle pervasive poverty, what are the long-time implications of the recent association of West African countries with China? Where do educational leaders within and outside the sub-region come in addressing these perennial issues? This chapter addresses these issues.