Thread by @rggoobi

Africa’s obsession right now is creating jobs for young people that keep pouring into the labour markets. But the real time bomb is in a statistic leaders and policymakers seem less interested in. Few kids of the poor are transitioning to secondary school. 1/

With exception of Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, DRC and a few other countries most kids of the poor in Africa, are dropping out of school. In Uganda only 3 out of 10 kids of the poor transition from primary to secondary. 8 of 10 kids of the “rich” transition. 2/

We can’t afford to perpetuate inequality in the only opportunity equalizer - education. However much governments in Africa try to create jobs or give livelihood funds to youth and women, they won’t transform if they don’t ensure all Their citizens get educated. 3/

Employing school dropouts is not a smart solution; its postponement, if not exacerbating a problem. Countries transform when human development takes place. There’s no shortcut.

This data has been picked from this exquisite study by the @WorldBank openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/hand…