Key Factors Hindering the Development of Education in Sub-Saharan Africa – Scoping Review

Lack of effective education is often highlighted as one of the main factors hindering the development of African countries. Most of Sub-Saharan Africa exhibit some of the lowest national GDP indexes and the lowest literacy rates and additionally account for more than half of out-of-school children globally. Despite gradually implemented reforms, Sub-Saharan educational systems still face numerous challenges and do not meet global standards. Although the number of articles referring to Sub-Saharan education has been growing in recent years, they remain fragmented and do not provide a synthetic analysis of the main factors shaping education in the region. This article addresses this gap in the understanding of impediments to education in Africa, aiming to connect existing discussions to identify the barriers in the Sub-Saharan education systems. Based on an analysis of a selection of existing research evidence, statistics and reports, this study delivers a holistic analysis of education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa along with their determining factors. This study contributes to a better understanding of Sub-Saharan education as one of the critical factors in the social and economic development of this region