Here is some data taken from the World Bank report on worldwide education statistics. We are comparing Ghana to both the United Kingdom and Sweden. The data is taken from the most recent of 2018 and 2019 reports.
Pre-primary enrolment rate
| Female | Male | Total | |
| Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%) | 75 | 72 | 73 |
Overall, the UK and Sweden have a 97% and 96% enrolment rate respectively.
Primary school enrolment rate
| Female | Male | Total | |
| Net enrolment rate, primary (%) | 87 | 86 | 86 |
| Primary school completion rate (%) | 95 | 93 | 94 |
Both the UK and Sweden have an enrolment rate of 99%, with 100% of enrolled students completing primary school. Unlike the UK and Sweden, a higher proportion of girls are enrolled into primary education. With many families in remote communities working in labour-intensive industries, it’s common for boys to work instead of being schooled, which explains why this number is lower.
Secondary school enrolment rate
| Female | Male | Total | |
| Net enrolment rate, secondary (%) | 58 | 57 | 57 |
This is where we begin to see even more extreme discrepancies between Ghana and their counterparts in the UK and Sweden. The UK has a 97% secondary school enrolment rate, with Sweden on 99%. As the children get older, it’s more likely that they will be exploited by working. With many families earning well below the minimum sum needed to survive, they are required to send their children to work.
Adult literacy rate
| Female | Male | Total | |
| Adult literacy rate (%) | 74 | 84 | 79 |
Both the UK and Sweden have a 99% adult literacy rate. These are the effects of having less children enrolled into formal education. This makes it harder for children to have prospects once they become adults, and can also restrict them in making the most of their rights as citizens. For example, less likely to vote or be able to digest information that is important for their livelihoods.
Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.
We want the number of children in education around the world to be 100%. In every country. There are a number of factors that are preventing this, many of which require extensive lobbying to change constitutions and rules. However, if we can make a positive change, however small, it’ll be a step in the right direction.
Statistics tend to de-humanise people. It’s easy to say, well what’s the difference between 74% and 75%. That 1% can equate to almost 300,000 people (based on the population of Ghana). 300,000 lives which could be improved if they had better literacy and numeracy skills. Imagine the difference that could make to somebody’s daily life.
UppFutures will always be striving for 100%, but rest assured we care about the people that are the data. We want to improve lives.
UppFutures 