Africa is the world’s youngest continent. That’s a double-edged sword. Though a young population is the backbone of the economy, without education and jobs, it inevitably leads to instability.
As our relationship with China deepens, we can draw some lessons from that country’s experience of educating its young people. One of China’s great success stories is poverty alleviation. A staggering 850 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, a feat never before seen in the history of humanity. One of the key drivers of this is education. What I call the “4P’s” are the engines for education in China: policy, parents, pupils and profit. The government allows for affordable public education; parents spend a huge chunk of their income on their children; students spend countless hours studying; and for-profit companies provide innovative training programmes at every price range.
Unlike the China of 40 years ago, Africa has the chance to leverage technology to enhance opportunities for its youth. As Chinese tech companies dip their toes into African markets, we have to make sure that these efforts offer opportunities for young people. Programmes like Africa Netpreneurs Prize Initiative, which gives $1m to 10 African entrepreneurs, led by Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma, should certainly be encouraged.
Another trend is that China has become a top destination for African students seeking higher education. As these students return, we need to help them contribute to our continent more effectively. The year 2020 is also a time to gear up for 2021 Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). As African countries prepare for the discussions, we should put young people at the center of our strategy.
- Lina Getachew Ayenew is author and founder of Education for Ethiopia
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