Only 9 of 46 sub-Saharan African countries are projected to meet the primary school teacher demand by 2030

Key takeaways:

  • Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of countries (37) expected to face a teacher shortage at the [primary levels.
  • In Latin America & the Caribbean, 18 countries are expected to have enough primary teachers.
  • Europe & Northern America is one of the best-performing after Latin America & the Caribbean, with 17 countries expected to meet primary teachers' demand.
  • If this trend continues, millions of children will struggle to access quality primary education, reinforcing cycles of poverty and limited economic mobility.
  • A lack of teachers doesn’t just mean fewer classrooms; it also means overburdened educators, lower student engagement, and declining educational outcomes.

By 2030, a significant number of countries are projected to face severe shortages of primary school teachers. The data from UNESCO and the Teacher Task Force highlights a concerning trend in which many regions are not on track to meet their teacher demand. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, faces the most critical shortfall, with only 9 out of 46 countries expected to have enough primary school teachers. Meanwhile, Europe & Northern America fare much better, with 17 countries projected to have sufficient primary school teachers.

Source:

UNESCO and Teacher Task Force

Period:

2030
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