Namibia has been recognised as a leader in education on the continent, ranking third in Africa according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Financing Africa report.
The country also achieved the top global position for education expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
The report highlighted the challenges African nations face in meeting education spending targets, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Admittedly, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, few African countries were meeting spending targets: whether in terms of the size of the economy (4% of GDP), of the budget (15% of total spending), or of spending per capita,” the report stated.
Between 2017 and 2019, only 12 of the 52 countries with available data achieved at least one of the Incheon Declaration spending targets, according to UNICEF.
Additionally, education spending per capita on the continent fell by 8% in 2020 during the pandemic and has yet to recover.
Tunisia topped the education rankings, followed by Ghana, Namibia, Mauritius and Togo. South Africa, often viewed as an education hub in the region, came in eighth, while Zimbabwe, known for its education legacy, failed to secure a spot in the top 10.
Despite its achievements in education, Namibia has been flagged for poor performance in implementing the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063. The country has achieved only 28% of the goals set under the initiative, according to the first assessment report by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) presented at the February 2024 AU Summit.
Namibia is among 11 nations with an implementation rate of 30% or less, alongside Botswana (29%) and Zambia (27%). These countries collectively represent 9.4% of Africa’s population. On the other hand, Rwanda leads the continent with a 64% implementation rate, followed by Ethiopia and Senegal, both at 63%.
The report noted that only five countries—Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Togo—achieved implementation rates of 60% or higher for the first decade of Agenda 2063.
Namibia’s struggles reflect broader continental challenges in meeting Agenda 2063’s Goal 4: Transformed Economies and Job Creation, which saw a dismal implementation rate of just 17%.
“This is critical, considering the key areas of this goal measure focus points for the continent’s economic progress: sustainable and inclusive economic growth; manufacturing, industrialisation, and value addition driven by Science, Technology and Innovation (STI); economic diversification and resilience; as well as hospitality/tourism,” the report noted.
Namibia’s dual status as a leader in education spending and a laggard in broader development goals underscores the complexities of achieving balanced progress on the continent.
