Promotion of Education in Africa Essay -- basic education, literacy, so

Topic 1: Promotion of Education in Africa The issue of basic education in the world, especially in Africa has been in the spotlight, waiting impatiently to be solved. The UN, with its Millennium Development Goals, has cited education as one of its top priorities to be achieved by 2015. The African Union, with its Second Decade of Education, has emphasized the need for primary education in Africa to ensure gender equality and the enhancement of African cultural values. Sadly, in many African nations, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, adult literacy rates are well below 50%, and many youth lack the most basic and primal educational opportunities. The delegation of South Africa recognizes this urgent need of promotion of education in Africa. Background As a fortunate nation, South Africa has a stable educational infrastructure and a sound â€Å"baseline† for elementary education. In South Africa, the average adult literacy rate is a good 93 percent, as compared to the international average of 84 percent (2010) and the staggering 62 percent of Africa. To continue, most youth has completed grade 9, which concludes their general education and ends their compulsory schooling. And to breathe a sigh of relief, there is little gender disparity in the South African education system. However, there are always some holes. Despite the solid literacy rate- this is defined as a person 15 years or older and can write a short statement about his or her life- South Africa lacks strong secondary and tertiary education. As stated from a study conducted by the OCED (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development), â€Å"some three-quarters of South African adults have completed at least grade 6, half has completed grade 9, and just under one-thir... ...amic Militant Organizations in Africa "Africa's Militant Islamist Groups." BBC News. BBC, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. . Nkala, Oscar. "Little Terror Threat in South Africa – Report." Home. Defence Web, 5 June 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. . "South Africa: Consolidated Acts." Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 2004. South African Legal Information Institute, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. . The War on Terrorism in Africa. N.p.: Westview Press, n.d. PDF. http://www.cfr.org/content/thinktank/Lyman_chapter_Terrorism.pdf