World Teachers Day 2022: Top 10 Countries With The Best Education System In Africa

World teachers day
World teachers day
Celebrating 2022 World teachers day (Photo credit: Canva)

World teachers day, which is observed on October 5 annually, is an international day for celebrating teachers around the world. Every year, the Education International (EI) and UNESCO lead the world in recognizing instructors including their work and impact.

The organizers of this event, together with global partners, also evaluate educators and education systems globally while considering issues arising from the teaching process and teachers in general.

UNESCO established world teachers day in 1994. Two years later, it convened an intergovernmental conference in Paris to adopt the International Labor Organization (ILO)/UNESCO recommendation on the status of teachers. This document sought to guide investigations on the situation and status of instructors globally.

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To commemorate the signing of this document, UNESCO proclaimed October 5 as international teachers day. The first celebration took place in 1966. Ever since UNESCO and EI have been mounting campaigns every year to help the world understand teachers and their significant role in developing students and societies.

What is the theme of World Teachers Day 2022

The theme for the World Teachers Day 2022 celebration is “The transformation of education begins with teachers.” The ceremony will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Partners from around the world will participate by organizing cultural fests or other events to celebrate teachers.

All celebrations normally revolve around World Teachers Day’s theme. Anyone can join these events to honor educators for their commendable service. There are lots of other ways to celebrate your teachers such as sending them a thank you card or a simple gift.

Also, you can use the hashtag #Worldteachersday to share your thoughts on how the education systems can be improved for teachers. There will also be virtual events around the world that you can attend.

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10 African countries with the best education system

For many years, the education system in Africa has generally been associated with low-quality learning, high dropout rates, and inequalities. But over the past decade, various aspects of education in the African continent have improved significantly.

For example, a 2021 report by the UNICEF and the African Union Commission shows the proportion of out-of-school primary school children dropped from 35% in 2000 to 17% in 2019. The report also indicates a significant reduction in high school dropouts across the continent.

Amidst challenges of poverty, conflict, and insecurity in some regions, many African governments are committed to education and training. African countries have realized that improving the education system is critical to national development.

Education not only empowers people but also fosters stronger democracies, more civic engagements, and peaceful communities. As nations celebrate this year’s world teachers day, let’s take a look at African countries with the best education system in 2022.

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10. Namibia

High school students in class
High school students in a class (Photo credit: UNICEF)

Namibia lawmakers have instituted laws to enforce the provision of equitable and accessible education services in the country. In Namibia, learners go through seven years of free and compulsory basic education.

Namibia is among the African countries with a large number of world-class schools. The over 1500 schools suggest this southwest African country is serious about educating its population.

Then, they spend five years in junior and senior secondary education before proceeding to tertiary education. According to the World Bank, Namibia has a literacy rate of 92% for people aged 15 and above. Namibia’s education system ranks 10th in Africa and 100th position globally, a milestone that Namibians should celebrate on this year’s world teachers day.

9. Egypt 

Computer lesson - celebrating world teacher day
Computer lesson (Photo credit: Enterprise )

In Egypt, acquiring education is not just important but also compulsory for everyone aged between 6 and 14. The abiding belief in the country is that education is a critical force for individual and national development.

The education system in Egypt mainly features basic, secondary, and tertiary levels. Typically, a learner spends eight years in primary school and three years in secondary school before joining a tertiary institution.

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All government schools and institutions in Egypt provide tuition-free education at all levels. According to the World Education News and Reviews (WENR), Egypt’s education system is the largest in the MENA region. This is a commendable achievement that Egypt will be proud of as it commemorates the 2022 world teachers day. WENR further notes that the country had a youth literacy rate of 94% in 2017. Egypt has the 9th best education system on the continent.

8. Cape Verde

Learning ongoing in class - 2022 world teachers day
Learning ongoing in class (Photo credit: Ekoexcel)

In recent years, the Cape Verde government has made considerable progress to improve the education system in the country. Children join a primary school at age 6 and spend six years acquiring compulsory basic education.

Then, learners spend five years in secondary school and then pursue higher education thereafter. Cape Verde has an estimated literacy rate of 80% and its education system is ranked 8th best in Africa.

7. Kenya

Kapsabet High School, Kenya
Kapsabet High School, Kenya (Photo credit: Ralingo)

Kenya adopted an 8-4-4 education system in 1985. This means eight years of basic education followed by four years of secondary education and then four years of undergraduate education. Primary education is compulsory and free in government schools.

In 2008, the East African country introduced free secondary education in public schools. Then, in 2017, Kenya unveiled the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) education system, which is intended to replace the 8-4-4 system.

The CBC system features a 2-6-3-3 model. This means pre-primary education (2 years), primary education (6 years), junior secondary education (3 years), and senior secondary education (3 years). According to UNESCO, Kenya has a literacy rate of 78.7%. As education stakeholders in Kenya celebrate world teachers day, CBC implementation successes and issues are likely to feature among other key agendas.

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6. Botswana

Secondary school students in class - celebrating world teachers day
Secondary school students (Photo credit: MCC)

The Botswana government recognizes that education is fundamental for human resource development. As spelled out in its vision 2036, Botswana aims to impart outcome-based, quality education to its society through its 7-3-2 education system.

Learners spend seven years in primary school before proceeding to junior secondary and senior secondary for three years and two years respectively. After completing secondary education, the best students join the university while the others enroll in vocational education in colleges.

With a population of nearly 2.5 million, Botswana has a literacy rate of about 88%. The government funds primary education to ensure children become literate in both English and Setswana.

5. Algeria

Teacher instructing pupils
Teacher instructing pupils (Photo credit: Dell)

Algeria generally structures its education system into nine years of primary education, three years of secondary education, and tertiary education thereafter. Primary education is free and compulsory. At the end of the nine years, learners take a final exam, which they must pass to join secondary school.

At the secondary education level, students chose between general and technical education. In the end, learners take the baccalauréat examination, which is key to joining a tertiary or vocational institution. In the recent global education system ranking, Algeria came in at position 88 and 5th in Africa. Its literacy rate is estimated at 75%. As Algeria marks the 2022 world teachers day, discussions may include ways to develop pre-schooling and improve university education.

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4. South Africa

A group of happy learners
A group of happy learners (Photo credit: MMC)

The education system in South Africa features the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Elementary education lasts seven years. At this level, each school assesses its pupils, meaning there is no national examination. Then, students take six years in secondary education level, which has both lower and upper secondary schools.

At the end of secondary school education, learners sit for a national examination. Depending on the score, a learner can join either a technical and vocational training (TVET) institution or proceed to the university. The recent literacy rate ranking places South Africa at 94 percent.

Celebrations in the 2022 world teachers day will include a reflection of the significant development the education sector in South Africa has undergone in recent years. These efforts have improved education standards considerably. Today, South African universities rank among the top tertiary institutions in Africa.

3. Mauritius

Teachers and Students in Mauritius - 2022 world teachers day
Teachers and Students in Mauritius (Photo credit: Sandwatchfoundation)

Mauritius has a 2-6-5-2 model education system. Children begin pre-primary education from age 3. After two years, schools admit them to primary schools for the next six years. Primary education concludes with a national examination. Upon passing, students gain admittance into secondary school.

Secondary education in Mauritius lasts for seven years that include certificate examinations in years five and seven. Both tertiary education institutions and polytechnics in the country offer university and post-secondary education.

Schooling in Mauritius is free and mandatory up to age 16. According to World Bank statistics, Mauritius has a literacy rate of 93%. This is a great achievement that is worth celebrating during world teachers day.

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2. Tunisia

The Carthage Byrsa School in Tunis
The Carthage Byrsa School in Tunis (Photo credit: Zenith)

Tunisia puts a high priority on education. The country has introduced various changes and invested heavily in its education system in the past two decades. Children begin the nine-year basic schooling at age six. This consists of six years at primary school and three years at lower-secondary school.

Upon completion, they proceed to upper secondary for four years. The first half of the upper secondary schooling covers a general curriculum while the other half entails vocational or academic training.

Students must pass a national exam to qualify for admission to the university. Tunisia has an estimated literacy rate of 96% according to the World Bank and is the second-best education system in Africa. As educators mark world teachers day, they hope the government will commit to improving certain areas of the education system including school infrastructure, particularly in rural settings.

1. Seychelles

Pupil and teacher connecting online
Pupil and teacher connecting online (Photo credit: Vibe)

As the world marks the 2022 world teachers day, it is worth noting that Seychelles has the best education system in Africa. The 2022 global ranking places Seychelles among the top 60 countries with the best education system in the world. Being the smallest country in Africa with a relatively small population, Seychelles has managed to make education uniformly circulated across the country.

Education is free and mandatory for children aged between six and 15 years. Pupils spend six years in primary school before admission to secondary school for five years. After completing secondary education, students can join Seychelles Polytechnic for pre-university training.

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Also, qualified students join the University of Seychelles for tertiary education. According to World Bank data, Seychelles had a literacy rate of 99% in 2018.

Conclusion

Education is no doubt one of the fundamental elements that will take Africa’s development to the next level. These African countries are leading the way by investing heavily in their education systems. Many will definitely be celebrating their successes on the 2022 world teachers day.

Africa can overcome some of its perpetual problems simply by educating its masses. Through education, African nations can empower their citizens to have a solution-oriented mindset. This will also move Africa from a dependent continent to a self-sustaining continent.

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