Banjul, The Gambia | By Anish Shekar | Africa remains the world’s most illiterate continent in 2024, highlighting the widening gap between social classes, gender disparities, governmental corruption, and, most critically, the lack of educational resources accessible to children and adults in rural areas across the continent.
A study led by David L. Share from the University of Haifa reveals that “on worldwide rankings (PIRLS 2016), African countries lie at the very bottom of the 50-nation list.“ Share’s research, referencing UNESCO statistics, underscores that 90 percent of South African children exhibit only elementary-level proficiency in reading and writing, while nearly 53 percent of Kenyan primary school children struggle to read or write a single word.
How can such a dire situation be addressed?
According to Share, the first step is increasing access to affordable, high-quality educational resources and teachers in Africa’s most impoverished and underserved regions. These areas often face severe educational setbacks, dragging literacy rates well below global averages.
Supporting local nonprofits and grassroots organizations dedicated to combating illiteracy through targeted, community-based campaigns is also critical.
Additionally, launching nationwide literacy campaigns and forming government-backed coalitions to fund schools and provide qualified educators and technology could significantly improve educational outcomes.
One nonprofit making strides is Building Africa One Man at a Time (BAOTO), which addresses literacy in Gambia at a national level. Mufta Bah, founder and resident of Yallal Ba Village in Gambia, asserts, “I believe that illiteracy is a very solvable problem with the right steps and resources. Through partnering with the government and obtaining funding, we are able to provide children throughout Gambia with scholarships and resources to learn, hence improving their future job prospects.”
These efforts are already yielding results, as literacy rates in regions throughout Gambia show steady improvement. While the challenge is immense, there is reason to remain optimistic, recognizing that change is both possible and within reach.
