Nearly 100 Million Children in Africa Out of School, and 450,000 Schools Without Electricity

Education is a key factor in societal development, but access to it remains unequal in many regions of the world. In particular, the education system in Africa faces serious challenges related to limited access to essential resources such as electricity, devices, the internet, and basic school supplies. According to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2023, inequality in access to these resources is observed both between and within countries, including between urban and rural schools.

Access to Electricity

In 2021, 770 million people, or nearly 9% of the world's population, did not have access to electricity. In Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan regions, the situation with access to electricity is gradually improving, but it remains far from ideal. For the first time in 2021, access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa exceeded 50%, but in rural areas, this figure is still significantly lower—less than 30%. For example, in Rwanda, only 18% of rural households have access to electricity: 12% are connected to the grid, while 6% use off-grid solar devices (World Bank data, 2022).

Over the past two decades, access to electricity has significantly increased in Central and Southern Asia, where it has become almost universal, with an increase of 38 percentage points. In sub-Saharan Africa, access increased by 24 percentage points, and in rural areas of this region—by 17 points. 

Access to Computers, the Internet, and Desks

Along with limited access to electricity, the situation with providing schools in Africa with computers, the internet, and school desks remains critical. In most sub-Saharan African countries, access to computers in schools is extremely low. According to the report, in 2020, only about 40% of schools worldwide had access to the internet for educational purposes, and this figure is even lower in Africa.

Moreover, many schools in Africa face a shortage of basic furniture, such as school desks, which creates additional challenges for organizing the learning process. The availability of desks in schools is important not only for the comfort of students but also for creating an optimal learning environment.

The report emphasizes that significant investment is needed to fully implement digital technologies in the educational process, as well as to provide basic school infrastructure. On average, each school requires 5 to 15 computers to ensure a basic level of computer literacy among students. Additionally, the cost of connecting schools to the internet, especially in remote and rural areas, remains a significant barrier.

Children Not Attending School

Amid these infrastructure challenges, a significant number of children in Africa do not attend school. From 2000 to 2021, the total number of children in sub-Saharan Africa increased, but a large portion of them still remain out of the education system. The number of out-of-school children fluctuated between 78 and 98 million during this period. Despite efforts to increase educational coverage, which led to the number of enrolled students growing from 109 million in 2000 to 240 million in 2021, nearly 100 million children still do not attend school. This situation reflects deep systemic problems, such as poverty, inequality in access to education, and the lack of basic infrastructure.

Cost Estimates for Equipping Schools with Computers, Solar Panels, the Internet, and Desks

To equip one school with solar panels that would provide stable electricity, about 10,000 to 15,000 dollars are needed. If we add the costs of purchasing computers (around 300 dollars per device), connecting to the internet, and basic school desks (which can range from 50 to 100 dollars each), the total expenses for equipping one school could reach 25,000 to 30,000 dollars.

There are about 620,000 schools in Africa, according to UNESCO. At the continental level, considering this number, the total cost of providing all schools with electricity, computers, the internet, and desks could range from 15 to 17 billion dollars. These funds are essential to create the basic infrastructure necessary for students to access modern educational resources and technologies in comfortable conditions.

The Role of Solar Energy in Solving the Problem

Solar energy technologies are one of the most promising and accessible alternatives for solving the problem of electrification in remote and poor regions. Solar panels have significant potential to provide schools with electricity, especially in areas where connecting to centralized power grids is difficult or economically unfeasible.

According to the report, solar panels are already demonstrating successful application examples in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In regions where access to electricity remains low, solar technologies can become an important tool for improving educational infrastructure. For example, in Uganda and Kenya, projects to install solar panels in schools are already being implemented, allowing for continuous learning processes, including access to online resources and modern educational technologies.

Prospects for Improving the Situation

Solar energy and digital technologies, combined with basic infrastructure like school desks, can play a key role in accelerating the modernization of schools. Solar panels and other alternative energy sources are a valuable resource that can help overcome existing barriers and provide schools with electricity even in the most remote and impoverished regions. Implementing these technologies will not only improve access to education but also significantly enhance its quality, making it more modern and technologically equipped.

Conclusion

The situation with access to education in Africa remains complicated due to the lack of basic infrastructure resources such as electricity, computers, the internet, and school desks. Without addressing this issue, further efforts to improve the education system will be significantly hindered. Investing in energy infrastructure, particularly in solar technologies, as well as in the digitalization and basic infrastructure of education, could be a key step towards creating equal conditions for accessing education throughout the region. Solar energy, modern technologies, and quality school infrastructure could become the foundation for the sustainable development of the education system in Africa, providing millions of children with the opportunity to receive quality education in conditions that meet the demands of the modern world.