Africa’s Education and Employment Rates

Africa’s education system is in crisis, with UNESCO reporting one in five children aged 6-11 not in school, one-third from 12-14, and three fifths from ages 15-17. Without higher education attendance and quality of teaching, these countries will struggle to see consistent improvements to health, employment levels and the economy.

Kenyans aged 15-35 represent over a third of the country’s population but over 10% are unemployed according to the ILO.  Mentoring can bridge the gap between having an education and transferring this into employment. An educated workforce can stimulate long-term sustainable economic growth and help these countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi adapt to globalisation.

Benefits of Mentoring

A common problem for underprivileged students in Africa is low perceptions of the importance of education and high dropout levels. Mentoring is especially critical in life transition stages, such as when students near the end of their school years. Mentorship can be invaluable at providing guidance on how to achieve the best future possible and help students escape the poverty trap.

The process of mentoring marginalised students starts with helping students create a vision for their life, develop a plan, and gain skills to be able to implement this plan.

Mentors serve as role models and expose students to new career possibilities and opportunities they may have been unaware of. The presence of a reliable, dependable, and well-intentioned mentor can provide a vulnerable student with both the knowledge and passion to pursue a successful career path. The mentoring process provides students with limited external experience to grow and develop their knowledge.

For less fortunate communities like Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi, mentorship can also build a child’s self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and drive, all increasing the likelihood of achieving their potential.

Mentoring also empowers women to strive for equal career opportunities and can challenge the barriers to education by helping reduce child marriages, early pregnancies, and acquire social and leadership skills.

Education for Africa’s Mentoring

Here at Education for Africa ( we run mentorship programs in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi by professionals in a range of industries.

We target the most socially isolated students to give them support and guidance, to hopefully help change the direction of their life.

To contribute to AFA’s mentoring scheme, please donate.

References/ links—dgreports/—dcomm/documents/briefingnote/wcms_737670.pdf