"Our hope is that CIFF’s journey will be useful for all
who aim to make development more impactful."

Weighted Average Net
Primary Enrolment Rate

Source: CIFF analysis based on UNESCO Institute of Statistics data.

"Weighted Average" is weighted by implied net primary-age population to allow for country-size.

Access to schooling has expanded significantly over the last 15 years, with approximately 75% of children attending school in Sub-Saharan Africa, up from 55% less than 10 years earlier. This increase in enrolment means that approximately 39 million more children were enrolled in primary school in Sub-Saharan Africa and India between 2001-2006.

Notwithstanding the increase in enrolment in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the quality of education appears to have lagged the improvements in access:

• Grade repetition rates remain high
• Primary school completion rates remain low
• Transition rates from primary to secondary school remain low and continue declining.

These rates remain low due to:

• Poor quality of education with many primary school students insufficiently equipped to transition to secondary school
• Opportunity cost of education reflecting both the affordability and alternative wage income for children
• Distance, particularly in rural areas
• Danger linked to sociopolitical volatility
• Cultural issues that place limited value on education, particularly for girls.

Sector Landscape Analysis

Further insight into this impact area can be gained from the Sector Landscape Analysis .